r/norsk • u/dwchandler • Aug 05 '18

Søndagsspørsmål #239 - Sunday Question Thread

This is a weekly post to ask any question that you may not have felt deserved its own post, or have been hesitating to ask for whatever reason. No question too small or silly!

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u/trouserdance Aug 05 '18

I recently came across the phrase 'din feiging' to mean you coward, you wussy, etc.

Why is din in, what looks to me like, possessive? Is it just a typical thing where you won't often say "du + noun" for "you X", as in "du idiot, du gris" etc.?

Is there another reason I'm missing/not seeing completely?

I'd love any input, it's been bothering me for a while now.

Tusen takk!~

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u/Eworyn Native Speaker Aug 05 '18

Something like "du tulling" is completely ungrammatical to me. It's true that "din" in "din feiging" is possessive, but I think it's more idiomatic to be honest. I have no idea where it comes from!

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u/trouserdance Aug 05 '18

Huh, fair enough.

I'm glad it's just "one of those things" and not some crazy hole in my understanding. I had a feeling that might be the case, but it only came up so rarely I couldn't really be sure.

I sincerely appreciate your help and time :] Hope you have a great day

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u/Eworyn Native Speaker Aug 06 '18

Thanks, you have a great day too!

I just realized something that I haven't seen anyone else mention: "du + noun" works if it's intercepted by "din", so "du din feiging" works too, but I don't think it's as common as "din feiging" by itself.

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u/trouserdance Aug 06 '18

Woah really? "Du din feiging'" seems super strange with the double-down on you (kind of sounds like a stutter in English to my ears [you...you big meaniehead!]), this weird grammar point just keeps getting stranger, haha. Awesome!

Thanks again for your continued thoughts on the matter :]