Kjøpte

Kjøpte is the past tense form of the Norwegian verb kjøpe, meaning “to buy.” It is used in both Bokmål and Nynorsk to describe a completed act of purchasing in the past. As a transitive verb, kjøpte typically appears with a direct object, as in Jeg kjøpte en bok i går.

Grammatical notes: The present tense of the verb is kjøper, and the past participle is kjøpt. The standard construction for past actions is jeg kjøpte, or with auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses, jeg har kjøpt. In narrative or simple past contexts, kjøpte stands alone as the finite verb.

Etymology and cognates: The Norwegian verb kjøpe traces back to Old Norse kaupa and is related to the Danish kjøpe and Swedish köpa. The form is part of a common North Germanic verb family that includes similar words in neighboring languages. The English verb buy is etymologically separate but shares a conceptual lineage of acquisition.

Usage notes: Kjøpte is a neutral, widely used form across registers. It appears in everyday speech and in written Norwegian alike. In Nynorsk, the past tense is also commonly kjøpte, reflecting parallel evolution with Bokmål. The verb forms a productive core for expressions about purchasing, such as å kjøpe noe (to buy something), jeg kjøpte bilen, and jeg har kjøpt klær online.

See also: kjøpe, the infinitive form; kjøp, the imperative.