foretrekker

Foretrekker is the present tense form of the Norwegian verb å foretrekke, meaning to prefer or to choose something over another option. The verb is used to express a person's or group's preference for one option, action, or result relative to alternatives. It can take a direct object, such as the thing that is preferred, or an infinitive clause describing an action.

Examples illustrate its use: Jeg foretrekker te framfor kaffe. Hun foretrekker å jobbe hjemme. De foretrekker det første alternativet framfor det andre. When comparing two options, the construction foretrekke X framfor Y is common. When referring to preferring a future action, the infinitive clause with å can follow: jeg foretrekker å gå nå.

Grammar and forms: foretrekke is conjugated in the present tense as foretrekker (jeg/du/han/hun/vi/dere/de foretrekker). The simple past tense is foretrakk, and the past participle is foretrukket, used in perfect tenses such as har foretrukket or hadde foretrukket. The term foretrukket can also function as an adjective meaning “preferred.”

Etymology and cognates: The verb has cognates in Danish foretrække and Swedish föredra, reflecting a common North Germanic heritage. These languages share a closely related concept of preference or favour.

See also: preference, choose, comparison.