dere

§ Understanding 'dere'

In Norwegian, 'dere' is the plural form of 'you'. This means you use it when you are talking to two or more people. It's similar to 'y'all' or 'you guys' in English. It's a very common word, so it's important to get comfortable with it early on.

DEFINITION

you plural

§ Basic Usage

You can use 'dere' as the subject of a sentence, just like 'you' in English.

ENGLISH HINT

You (plural) are nice.

ENGLISH HINT

Where do you (plural) come from?

§ 'Dere' as an Object

'Dere' can also be the object of a verb or a preposition. It doesn't change its form, which makes it easier than some other pronouns.

ENGLISH HINT

I see you (plural).

ENGLISH HINT

I am talking with you (plural).

§ Possessive Form: 'deres'

When you want to say 'your' (plural) to indicate possession, you use 'deres'. Notice the extra 's' at the end.

ENGLISH HINT

Is this your (plural) house?

ENGLISH HINT

Where is your (plural) car?

§ Common Phrases with 'dere'

Here are some everyday phrases where 'dere' is used:

• Hvordan går det med dere? (How are you all doing?)

• Takk for sist, dere! (Thanks for last time, everyone! - Used when you meet people you haven't seen for a while.)

• Kan dere hjelpe meg? (Can you all help me?)

§ Grammar Notes

Unlike some other languages, Norwegian doesn't change the form of 'dere' based on gender or case (nominative/accusative/dative). This simplifies things a lot!

Just remember:

• 'Dere' is always plural.

• 'Dere' can be the subject or the object.

• 'Deres' is the possessive form.

Practice using 'dere' in different sentences. The more you use it, the more natural it will feel. Try to make up some sentences about your friends or family using 'dere'.

Alright, let's talk about "dere." This is a simple but important word. It means "you" when you are talking to more than one person. Think of it like "y'all" or "you guys" in English. Mastering "dere" is a quick win for your Norwegian.

§ Basic Definition

Norwegian Word

dere

Pronunciation

['dɛrə]

Part of Speech

pronoun

Definition

you (plural)

§ Using "Dere" in Everyday Life

You'll hear "dere" everywhere in Norway. It's a fundamental pronoun. If you're addressing a group of people, whether it's two friends or twenty colleagues, "dere" is your word.

§ At Work

In a professional setting, "dere" is crucial for team communication. You'll use it when speaking to your team, a group of clients, or your supervisors if you're addressing them collectively.

• Giving instructions:

• Addressing a group in a meeting:

• Asking for a group's opinion:

§ At School/University

Teachers use "dere" constantly to address students. Students also use it when talking to groups of classmates.

• Teacher addressing students:

• Students talking about a group assignment:

§ In the News and Public Announcements

When authorities or news anchors address the public, they often use "dere" to include everyone watching or listening.

• Public service announcement:

• News reporter to viewers:

§ Common Phrases with "Dere"

Here are some useful phrases you'll hear and use often:

• "Hvordan går det med dere?" (How are you all doing?)
• "Ser jeg dere i morgen?" (Will I see you all tomorrow?)
• "Takk for hjelpen, dere!" (Thanks for the help, y'all!)

§ "Dere" vs. "De" (Them)

A quick note to avoid confusion: "dere" means "you plural." The word "de" (pronounced more like 'dee') means "they" or "them." Don't mix them up!

Example of "De"

"Hva gjør de i dag?" (What are they doing today?)

"Dere" is one of those words you'll start using without thinking once you get the hang of it. Keep practicing, and you'll sound more natural in no time.

§ Forgetting 'Dere' is Plural

The most common mistake English speakers make is forgetting that 'dere' specifically means 'you' when you're talking to more than one person. In English, 'you' works for both singular and plural, which makes it easy to get mixed up in Norwegian. But 'dere' is always plural. Always. If you're talking to one person, you use 'du'.

§ Using 'Dere' for Politeness

Many languages use a plural 'you' form as a polite or formal way to address a single person. Think of 'vous' in French or 'usted' in Spanish. Norwegian does NOT do this. 'Dere' is strictly plural. Using 'dere' to a single person, even if you're trying to be formal, will sound unnatural and incorrect. In most modern Norwegian, 'du' is used for everyone, regardless of age or status, unless it's a very specific, extremely formal context (which is rare, mostly in official writing, and not something you need to worry about at an A1 level).

§ Confusing 'Dere' with Possessive 'Deres'

Another common pitfall is mixing up the pronoun 'dere' (you plural) with the possessive pronoun 'deres' (your plural/theirs). While they look and sound similar, they have entirely different functions. 'Dere' is the subject or object of a sentence, meaning 'you' (plural). 'Deres' shows ownership, meaning 'your' (plural) or 'theirs'.

DEFINITION

deres (possessive pronoun): your plural, theirs

Remember:

• 'Dere' = 'you' (plural subject/object)
• 'Deres' = 'your' (plural possessive) or 'theirs'

§ Incorrect Verb Conjugation

While Norwegian verbs don't change much based on the subject compared to many other languages, it's still important to use the correct verb forms. For 'dere', you will almost always use the infinitive form of the verb, similar to 'du' and 'vi'. The mistake isn't usually the verb ending itself, but sometimes learners get confused and try to add endings they've seen in other languages. Keep it simple.

The verb 'spise' (to eat) doesn't change when used with 'dere' in the present tense, nor does 'gjøre' (to do). The challenge is often constructing the rest of the sentence correctly.

By being mindful of these common mistakes, you'll use 'dere' correctly and sound much more natural in your Norwegian conversations. Practice makes perfect!