Sjekke

Sjekke is a Norwegian verb meaning to check, verify, inspect, or examine. It is a loanword from English and is widely used across formal and informal language in Bokmål and Norwegian. The word functions as a generic verb for detecting correctness, status, or condition in a range of contexts.

Common senses include verifying information or status (for example, “å sjekke om dataene er riktige” – to check if the data are correct), inspecting or testing something physically (for example, “å sjekke bilen” – to check the car), and logging in or out in everyday tasks (for example, “å sjekke inn” at a hotel or “å sjekke ut” when leaving a place). In everyday speech, the phrasal verbs “å sjekke ut” (to check out) and “å sjekke inn” (to check in) are frequent. In dating slang, “å sjekke opp noen” means to flirt with or try to pick up someone. In computing or work contexts, it appears in phrases like “å sjekke for feil” or “sjekke e-post” to denote validation or review.

Grammar and usage notes: sjekke is conjugated with regular Norwegian endings. Present tense is “sjekker,” past tense “sjekket,” and perfect constructions use “har sjekket.” It is common in casual speech and writing, though in highly formal contexts alternatives like “verifisere” or “undersøke” may be preferred. The word forms a productive core for many fixed expressions with prepositions (inn, ut, opp, av, among others), contributing to a flexible range of meanings.