bistå

Bistå is a Norwegian verb meaning to assist, support, or help someone with a task or in a situation. The term is formal and neutral, commonly found in professional, administrative, legal, or organizational language, as well as in everyday speech when the emphasis is on deliberate or organized help.

Etymology and related forms: Bistå derives from Old Norse bistá and is linked to the noun bistand, meaning assistance. The word exists in Bokmål and is cognate with related Scandinavian terms. The noun bistand refers to assistance or aid.

Usage: Bistå is typically used with a direct object and often with med to specify what is being helped with: å bistå noen med noe (to assist someone with something). It can also appear with situational prepositions, for example bistå i en krisesituasjon (to assist in a crisis). The verb is commonly found in formal contexts such as government statements, law, healthcare, and organizational communications, but it also appears in everyday language when precise or official wording is desired.

Conjugation (illustrative): Infinitive: å bistå. Preterite: bistod. Perfect: har bistått. Present tense forms vary with subject (for example, jeg bistår, du bistår, han bistår). Passive form: blir bistått.

Relation and usage notes: Bistå often implies structured, ongoing, or task-specific help rather than casual aid. It is commonly contrasted with hjælpe, which is a more general term for assistance. Bistand is the related noun meaning assistance or aid, and bistå is frequently used in phrases such as bistå med råd eller bistå i gjennomføringen av et prosjekt.

Examples: Lederen må bistå teamet med prosjektplanen. Politiet må bistå innbyggerne i etterforskningen.