ligger

Ligger is a present-tense verb form found in several Scandinavian languages, notably Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish. It generally corresponds to the English verb to lie, but it covers two related senses: to lie down (recline) and to be located or situated. The word itself is not used to express deception in these languages; that meaning of lie in English is a separate verb.

Etymology and senses

Ligger comes from the common Germanic verb ligga/ligga, related to the English lie. In Scandinavian usage, context determines whether the sentence refers to physical position (lying down) or to spatial location (being situated somewhere). In many contexts, ligger can mean “is located” as in place or position, or “lies” in the sense of reclining.

Usage notes and examples

Norwegian: Huset ligger ved fjorden. (The house lies by the fjord / is located by the fjord.) Jeg ligger i senga. (I lie in bed.)

Danish: Huset ligger ved havnen. (The house is located by the harbor.) Jeg ligger i sengen. (I lie in bed.)

Swedish: Byn ligger vid sjön. (The village lies by the lake.) Jag ligger i sängen. (I lie in bed.)

See also

For the sense of falsehood in English, use the verb lie; in Scandinavian languages, ligger is not used to express lying about truth. Related verbs include ligga (to lie down) and befinna sig (to be located).