tilegne

Tilegne is a verb used in Danish and Norwegian to describe the act of acquiring, obtaining, or making something one’s own. The term is commonly applied to knowledge, skills, experience, or resources, and it is often used with reflexive pronouns, as in tilegne sig, to emphasize personal uptake or internalization. The related noun tilegnelse (often translated as acquisition) is frequently used in educational and organizational discourse.

In usage, tilegne sig is the typical construction when referring to self-directed learning and personal development. Examples in Danish include: "Hun tilegnede sig de nødvendige færdigheder gennem praksis" (She acquired the necessary skills through practice) and "Kurset giver deltagerne mulighed for at tilegne sig ny viden" (The course provides an opportunity to acquire new knowledge). The verb can also appear in non-reflexive form to express the act of obtaining something for oneself, though the reflexive form is more common when emphasizing personal mastery.

Nuances and scope: tilegne focuses on voluntary effort, improvement, and assimilation of new competencies rather than passive possession. It is often used in educational, professional, and training contexts, as well as in discussions of lifelong learning and skill development.

Related terms include tilegnelse (the act of acquiring) and tilegnet (adjective meaning acquired or dedicated). The concept is dialogic in Scandinavian education and policy discussions, highlighting the process of turning information into usable expertise.

See also: tilegnelse, tilegne, tilegnet.