Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Kan du holde døren for meg?

Norwegian yes/no questions put the verb first. So the modal verb kan comes before the subject: Kan du …? In a statement it’s the other way around: Du kan holde døren …

Why is it holde and not å holde after kan?

After modal verbs (like kan, må, vil, skal, bør), the next verb stays in the bare infinitive without å. So it’s kan holde, not kan å holde, and not the imperative hold.

Why is it døren and not dør?

Norwegian marks definiteness with a suffix. dør = “a door” (indefinite), while døren = “the door” (definite). In this context you mean a specific door, so the definite form is natural.

Is døra also correct?

Yes. Dør is a feminine noun. In Bokmål you can treat it as:

Masculine: en dør → døren
Feminine: ei dør → døra Both døren and døra are correct Bokmål; døra often sounds more colloquial. In Nynorsk you’d use the feminine forms: ei dør → døra.

What does for mean here, and why not til meg?

Here for marks doing something for someone’s benefit: for meg = “for me / on my behalf.” til meg typically means motion or transfer “to me” (e.g., “give it to me”), so it doesn’t fit this request.

Do I need to say for meg at all?

No. Kan du holde døren? is already a natural request in context. Adding for meg makes the beneficiary explicit, but it’s optional unless you need to specify someone else (e.g., for henne).

How polite is Kan du …? Are there more/less polite alternatives?

Neutral–polite: Kan du holde (døren) …?
More polite/softer: Kunne du holde …?, Kan/Kunne du være så snill og/å holde …?
Very casual (can sound blunt depending on tone): Gidder du å holde …?
Direct command: Hold døren (for meg), vær så snill. (imperative softened with “vær så snill”) Intonation and a friendly tone matter a lot for politeness.

Can I just use the imperative Hold døren!?

You can, but bare imperatives can sound brusque. It’s fine among friends or in urgent situations. To soften it, add something like vær så snill or takk: Hold døren for meg, takk.

Does holde døren imply holding it open?

Usually yes in this context (letting someone pass). To be explicit:

Hold it open: holde døren åpen / holde døren oppe
Hold it closed: holde døren igjen / holde døren lukket

Can I change the word order to Kan du holde for meg døren?

No. That sounds wrong in Norwegian. Keep the object before the beneficiary phrase: … holde døren for meg. The prepositional phrase for meg naturally goes last here.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Approximate guide (many dialects vary):

kan: “kahn” with a short a
du: “doo” with rounded u (like German ü)
holde: “HOHL-deh” (the d may be light; the l often lengthens)
døren: “DUR-en” but with ø = rounded “e” (like French “peu”); the r can be trilled or uvular
for: “for” or “forr” (often a short, unstressed vowel)
meg: often “mai” or “mei” in speech Saying it smoothly: kan-du HOL-de DØR-en for mai/mei?

Is there a Nynorsk version?

Yes: Kan du halde døra for meg? (Nynorsk uses halde and the feminine definite døra.)

How can I add a “please” in Norwegian?

Norwegian has no single universal “please.” Common options:

Vær så snill (og/å) …: Vær så snill og hold døren for meg.
Add takk: Kan du holde døren for meg, takk. Both feel polite; og is common after vær så snill (you’ll also see å). Some speakers avoid overusing these and rely on tone.

Is Kan du ikke holde døren for meg? also okay?

Yes. A negative question like Kan du ikke …? can sound softer or more coaxing, similar to “Couldn’t you …?” in English. Use it with a friendly tone to avoid sounding accusatory.