vokse

Vokse is a Norwegian verb meaning to grow, increase, or develop. It is used for the physical growth of living beings as well as for abstract growth such as populations, economies, or skills. In everyday language you can say: “Planen vokser raskt” (the plan is growing quickly) or “Befolkningen vokste med fem prosent i fjor” (the population grew by five percent last year).

Conjugation in Bokmål typically follows a regular pattern for this verb root. The present tense is “vokser,” the past tense is “vokste,” and the past participle is “vokst.” The present participle is “voksende,” used in phrases like “en voksende befolkning” (a growing population). The verb also forms common phrases such as “å vokse opp” (to grow up) and appears in many idioms related to growth and development.

Etymology and related forms: vokse derives from Old Norse vaxa, meaning to grow. It has cognates in neighboring Scandinavian languages, including Danish vokse and Swedish växa, reflecting shared Germanic roots related to growth and development.

Usage and related terms: The noun form meaning growth is vekst, and the adjective form meaning growing is voksende. In economic, ecological, or demographic contexts, vokse serves as a core verb to describe increase over time, while vekst and velger alternative terms when focusing on the result or the rate of growth. The concept is central across biology, ecology, economics, and everyday speech in Norwegian.