sørge

Sørge is a verb used in Danish and Norwegian with two primary senses. In its core meaning it denotes mourning or grieving a loss: for example, one can say that someone “sørger over” a death or a setback, meaning they mourn or lament. In a separate sense, it means to take care of or to provide for someone or something, often used with the preposition for, as in “sørge for børnene” (take care of the children) or “sørge for at få det gjort” (make sure to get it done).

Etymology and related forms: The verb derives from the common Nordic and Germanic heritage associated with the noun for grief, sorg. In Danish and Norwegian, sørge is closely connected to the noun sorg (grief) and to related expressions used to talk about care and obligation. The word is cognate with similar forms in other Scandinavian languages and reflects a historical linkage between mourning and responsibility toward others.

Usage and grammar: In Danish and Norwegian, the present tense is formed as sørger. The simple past tense is usually sørgede in Danish and sørget in Norwegian, with the corresponding past participle often appearing as sørget (Danish) or har sørget (Norwegian) in perfect constructions. The imperative form is sørg. A common collaboration with the preposition for is an important usage distinction: sørge for means to take care of or provide for someone or something, while sørge (alone) typically relates to mourning.

See also: sorg, at sørge for, sorrow in Scandinavian languages.