bestemme (to decide) | Norwegian Grammar

bestemme ("to decide, determine") is the standard verb for making decisions in Norwegian. It is a weak Class 2 verb built on the inseparable prefix be- (the same be- that gives betale, betyde, begynne), and its most important feature for learners is that it usually appears reflexively: bestemme seg for "to decide on / make up one's mind." Drop the seg or the for and the sentence either breaks or changes meaning, so this page focuses on getting that construction right — along with the adjective bestemt ("definite, certain"), which is the same word wearing a different hat.

Conjugation

Class: weak, Class 2 (-te / -t). Inseparable prefix be-. Auxiliary: ha.

Tense / mood	Norwegian	English
Infinitiv	å bestemme	to decide
Presens	bestemmer	decide(s)
Preteritum	bestemte	decided
Perfektum	har bestemt	have/has decided
Pluskvamperfektum	hadde bestemt	had decided
Futurum	skal/vil bestemme	will decide
Imperativ	bestem!	decide!
Presens partisipp	bestemmende	determining (adjective)

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The infinitive and present keep double m (bestemme, bestemmer), but the preterite and supine drop one: bestemte, har bestemt — single m, because the -t ending closes the syllable. The imperative is just the bare stem bestem! (also single m). Because be- is inseparable, it never detaches: there is no stemme bestemt — the prefix rides along through every form.

bestemme seg for — the core reflexive construction

This is the highest-value pattern on the page. To express that a person makes up their mind, Norwegian uses bestemme seg for + noun or bestemme seg for å + infinitive. The reflexive seg (which agrees with the subject: meg, deg, seg, oss, dere, seg) signals that the deciding is something the subject does to/within themselves.

Jeg bestemte meg for å bli i Norge et år til.

I decided to stay in Norway one more year.

Har dere bestemt dere for en dato ennå?

Have you decided on a date yet?

Hun klarte ikke å bestemme seg, så vi ventet.

She couldn't make up her mind, so we waited.

The reflexive pronoun must match the subject — jeg bestemte meg, vi bestemte oss, han bestemte seg. English has no reflexive here at all ("I decided," not "I decided myself"), which is exactly why learners forget the seg. Think of it as Norwegian making the inward, deliberative nature of the choice grammatically visible.

bestemme without seg — to decide an outcome / be in charge

Used non-reflexively, bestemme means to decide a matter, settle a question, or determine an outcome — often by authority. Here there is a direct object (a thing being decided), not a reflexive pronoun.

Det er sjefen som bestemmer hvem som får ferie først.

It's the boss who decides who gets holiday first.

Vi bestemte møtetidspunktet på forrige samling.

We settled the meeting time at the last gathering.

A closely related authority sense is bestemme over — "to have authority over, boss around":

Du kan ikke bestemme over meg — jeg er voksen.

You can't boss me around — I'm an adult.

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Two patterns, two meanings. bestemme seg (for) = "make up one's own mind" (inward, reflexive). bestemme + object / bestemme over = "decide a matter / be in charge" (outward, authoritative). If a person is wrestling with a personal choice, you almost always want the reflexive seg for.

bestemt — the adjective and participle

The supine bestemt doubles as an adjective with two related senses. First, "determined, resolute, firm" (a manner): en bestemt stemme "a firm voice." Second — and this is the one that surprises learners — bestemt is the grammatical term for the definite form of nouns: bestemt form = "definite form," den bestemte artikkelen = "the definite article."

Hun svarte med en bestemt og rolig stemme.

She answered in a firm and calm voice.

Husk å bruke bestemt form etter dette ordet.

Remember to use the definite form after this word.

So the same root ties together "to determine," "determined," and "definite" — a thing made definite is a thing that has been determined. Holding that thread makes all three senses feel like one word, which they are.

bestemme vs avgjøre — deciding vs settling

Norwegian has a near-synonym, avgjøre ("to settle, determine conclusively, be decisive"). The split is useful: bestemme is the everyday "make a decision / choose," while avgjøre stresses that a decision settles a matter or tips an outcome.

Vi må bestemme oss for hvilken film vi skal se.

We have to decide which film to watch.

Det siste målet avgjorde kampen.

The last goal decided (settled) the match.

You would not say det siste målet bestemte kampen — a goal doesn't "make up its mind." When the subject is a person choosing, use bestemme; when a factor settles a contest or question, use avgjøre.

Common Mistakes

❌ Jeg bestemte å bli i Norge.

Incorrect — for a personal choice you need the reflexive: bestemte meg for

✅ Jeg bestemte meg for å bli i Norge.

I decided to stay in Norway.

❌ Hun har bestemte seg.

Incorrect — after har use the supine bestemt, not the preterite bestemte

✅ Hun har bestemt seg.

She has made up her mind.

❌ Vi bestemte oss å reise.

Incorrect — the construction needs for before the infinitive: bestemte oss for å reise

✅ Vi bestemte oss for å reise.

We decided to travel.

❌ Jeg bestemmde det selv.

Incorrect — Class 2 takes -te, and the preterite drops one m: bestemte

✅ Jeg bestemte det selv.

I decided it myself.

Key Takeaways

bestemme / bestemmer / bestemte / har bestemt / bestem! — weak Class 2, inseparable prefix be-.
Spelling: double m in bestemme/bestemmer, single m in bestemte / bestemt / bestem.
For a personal choice use the reflexive bestemme seg for (+ noun or å
- infinitive); match the pronoun to the subject (meg, deg, seg, oss, dere).
Non-reflexive bestemme / bestemme over = "decide a matter / be in charge."
bestemt also means "firm, resolute" and, in grammar, "definite" (bestemt form).
Use avgjøre, not bestemme, when something settles a contest or question.

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