ligner

Ligner is the present tense form of the verb ligne in Danish and Norwegian Bokmål, meaning to resemble or be similar to someone or something. It is used to describe likeness, whether literal (physical appearance) or figurative (shared traits, behavior, or quality). The verb can refer to people, objects, or situations, and is commonly used in everyday comparison.

In Danish, examples include Det ligner min søster (That resembles my sister) or Det ligner på noget (That looks like something). In Norwegian Bokmål, a typical construction is Han ligner faren sin (He resembles his father) or Det ligner en god idé (That sounds like a good idea). The sense of resemblance can be literal as well as evaluative.

Grammatical notes and variation across Scandinavian languages show close cognates. The root verb is related to Swedish likna/liknar, while Norwegian nynorsk often uses likna or liknar for similar meaning. In practice, ligner is primarily a Bokmål/Danish form; in Norwegian nynorsk, liknar or likne is more common.

Usage considerations include the choice of preposition. In many contexts ligner functions directly with the noun or pronoun being compared, while in some cases the preposition paa/on may appear to specify what is being compared, depending on regional usage and nuance. The term is not a root for negation or contrast; its core meaning remains the expression of resemblance.

See also: likne, liknar, likeness, resemblance.