huske

Huske is a Norwegian verb meaning to remember, recall, or memorize. It is used to refer to the act of retrieving a memory or committing information to memory. In Norwegian, the verb is common in both everyday speech and written language. The Danish language has the same verb with the same meaning, at huske, while Swedish tends to express the idea of remembering with minnas.

Etymology and related forms: Huske is a Germanic word and has cognates in other North Germanic languages, most notably Danish at huske. The form and usage in Norwegian have remained closely aligned with Danish, reflecting shared linguistic roots across the region. In modern Norwegian, huske is used across both Bokmål and Nynorsk varieties.

Conjugation and usage: The infinitive is å huske. In present tense, subjects use husker (jeg husker, du husker, han/hun/den husker, vi husker, dere husker, de husker). The past tense is commonly husket, and the past participle is husket, which is used with har to form the present perfect: jeg har husket. The imperative is husk, as in "Husk å låse døren" (Remember to lock the door). A common gerundial construction is å huske på noe, meaning to keep something in mind or to bear in mind. Another frequent phrase is jeg kan ikke huske det (I can’t remember it).

Usage notes: Huske covers both remembering something you once knew and recalling information later. It appears in a wide range of contexts, from everyday reminders to formal statements about memory and recollection. Related expressions include å huske på, which emphasizes keeping something in mind, and the imperative husk, which issues a reminder.