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Questions & Answers about Han kjeder seg i køen.
Why is it "kjeder seg" and not just "kjeder"?
Because å kjede seg is a reflexive verb meaning “to be bored” (literally “to bore oneself”). Without the reflexive pronoun, å kjede means “to bore (someone else).”
- Correct: Han kjeder seg i køen.
- Different meaning: Han kjeder ham. = “He is boring him.” Common mistakes to avoid:
- ✗ Han kjeder i køen. (missing the reflexive)
- ✗ Han er kjedet. (not how you say “is bored”)
How do I say it with other subjects?
Use the matching reflexive/object form:
- I: Jeg kjeder meg
- You (sg.): Du kjeder deg
- He/She: Han/Hun kjeder seg
- We: Vi kjeder oss
- You (pl.): Dere kjeder dere
- They: De kjeder seg
How do I put it in the past or perfect?
It’s a regular verb:
- Present: kjeder → Han kjeder seg
- Preterite (simple past): kjedet → Han kjedet seg
- Present perfect: har kjedet → Han har kjedet seg
- Past perfect: hadde kjedet → Han hadde kjedet seg Note: The past is kjedet, not “kjedde.”
Is there a special “-ing”/progressive form in Norwegian?
No. Norwegian normally uses the simple present for both simple and progressive meanings. Han kjeder seg can mean “He is bored” (right now) or a general/habitual state. Add an adverb like nå (now) if you want to stress it’s happening at the moment: Han kjeder seg nå.
Why is it "i køen"? Could I say "i kø" or "på køen"?
- i køen = “in the (specific) queue/line”
- i kø = “in line” (in general/idiomatic)
- på køen is not used. Examples:
- Han står i kø. (general)
- Han står i køen utenfor butikken. (that particular line)
What does the -en ending in "køen" do?
Norwegian marks definiteness with a suffix:
- Indefinite singular: en kø (a queue)
- Definite singular: køen (the queue)
- Indefinite plural: køer (queues)
- Definite plural: køene (the queues) With an adjective you use “double definiteness”: den lange køen = “the long queue.”
Where does "seg" go, and what about negation or questions?
The reflexive pronoun usually comes right after the finite verb.
- Statement: Han kjeder seg i køen.
- Negation: Han kjeder seg ikke i køen.
- Yes/no question: Kjeder han seg i køen? With a modal/auxiliary, seg stays with the main verb: Han vil ikke kjede seg i køen.
Can I front the prepositional phrase?
Yes. Norwegian is a V2 language, so the finite verb stays in second position:
- I køen kjeder han seg. (Fronted “in the queue,” then verb, then subject)
What’s the difference between "kjedelig", "kjede (seg)", and "lei"?
- kjedelig = boring (describes something/someone that bores others): Køen er kjedelig.
- å kjede seg = to be bored (state of a person): Han kjeder seg.
- lei (av) = fed up/tired (of): Han er lei av å stå i kø. Also: Han er kjedelig means “he is boring,” not “bored.” For “sad,” use lei seg: Han er lei seg.
How do Norwegians usually talk about lining up?
The standard phrase is å stå i kø (“to stand in line”).
- Han står i kø og kjeder seg.
- Vi hater å stå i kø.
How do I make this into a natural yes/no question or a wh-question?
- Yes/no: Kjeder han seg i køen?
- With a question word: Hvorfor kjeder han seg i køen? (Why is he bored in the queue?)
What’s the difference between "han" and "ham," and why not "ham" here?
- han = subject form (“he”)
- ham = object form (“him”)—formal; colloquially han is often used as object too.
- seg = reflexive object for 3rd person when it refers back to the subject. In this sentence the object refers to the subject, so you must use seg: Han kjeder seg.
Pronunciation tips for this sentence?
- kj- in kjeder is a soft, hissy sound (like the German “ich”).
- kjeder has two syllables, stress on the first.
- seg is often pronounced like “say” but shorter.
- ø in køen is like French “peu.” køen is two syllables: “kø-en.”
How can I type the letter "ø"?
- Mac: Option+O = ø, Shift+Option+O = Ø
- Windows: Add a Norwegian keyboard (then ø is next to L), or use Alt-codes: Alt+0248 = ø, Alt+0216 = Ø
- iOS/Android: Long-press “o” and choose ø
Does "kø" also mean a traffic jam?
Yes. kø can be a queue of people or vehicles. Å stå i kø can mean “to be stuck in traffic.” Context clarifies which one you mean.
Is this the same in Bokmål and Nynorsk?
The noun and pronouns are the same here, but the present tense verb differs:
- Bokmål: Han kjeder seg i køen.
- Nynorsk: Han kjedar seg i køen.
Could I express the same idea by saying the queue is boring?
Yes, slightly different focus:
- Han kjeder seg i køen. (his state)
- Han synes køen er kjedelig. (his opinion about the queue) Both are natural; the first emphasizes how he feels.