Bøyes

Bøyes is the present passive form of the Norwegian verb bøye, meaning to bend or to cause to bend. In this form the subject of the sentence is the receiver of the action, for example: Treet bøyes av vinden, which translates to The tree is bent by the wind. The form is part of the present passive in Norwegian and can be used in both Bokmål and Nynorsk to describe something that is being bent or curved.

Etymology and cognates: bøye comes from the North Germanic linguistic family. Related forms appear in neighboring Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish böjs and Danish bøjes, reflecting shared etymological roots. The root meaning centers on bending, curving, or flexing.

Usage and notes: In modern Norwegian, the present passive can also be expressed with a form built around blir bøyd (is bent) in many contexts, especially in everyday prose. The bøyes form remains common in technical, descriptive, or older texts where the direct passive is preferred. It is also encountered in weather, engineering, and natural descriptions where the focus is on the state of being bent rather than on an agent.

Examples in context:

- Ståltråden bøyes lett under press. (The steel wire is bent easily under pressure.)

- Treet bøyes av vinden. (The tree is bent by the wind.)

See also: bøying (bending; inflection), bøyning (the act or process of bending), passive voice in Norwegian.