bære

Bære is a Norwegian verb meaning to carry or bear. It covers physical carrying of objects, conveying or transporting things, as well as figurative senses such as bearing weight, responsibility, or fruitfulness. The verb also appears in expressions that mean to endure or withstand.

Etymology and cognates: Bære derives from Old Norse bera and is cognate with Danish bære and Swedish bära. The common Germanic root is linked to the idea of carrying or bearing something. The word is also reflected in related terms in modern Norwegian, such as compounds and phrases built around carrying or bearing.

Grammar and conjugation: Bære is a strong verb with irregular forms. In Bokmål, typical conjugation includes: å bære (infinitive); jeg bærer, du bærer, han/hun bærer (present); jeg bar, du bar, han/hun bar (past); har båret (present perfect). The present participle is bærende, used in continuous or participial phrases. The past participle båret is used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses.

Usage and expressions: The core meaning is physical carrying, as in "Hun bærer en eske opp trappa." It is also used metaphorically, for example "å bære byrden" (to bear the burden), "å bære frukt" (to bear fruit), or "å bære preg av noe" (to bear signs of something). The verb appears in many compound forms and in compounds with prepositions that extend its sense, such as conveying, supporting, or sustaining.

See also: Bærekraft (sustainability), which uses the metaphorical sense of carrying or bearing for long-term viability; related forms include bæring (carrying, bearing) and bærende (bearing, bearing weight).

Overall, bære is a foundational Norwegian verb with broad physical and metaphorical uses, and it serves as a basis for many common expressions and compounds.