bruken

Low German

Etymology 1

From Middle Low German brûken, Old Saxon brūkan.

Verb

bruken (third-person singular simple present bruukt, past tense bruuk, past participle bruukt, auxiliary verb hebben)

1. to need to, to have to (in negation or with the adverb alleen (“just, only”), you can also use möten)

   Du bruukst nich op mi to töven.

   You don’t need to wait for me.

   (or Du musst nich op mi to töven, see usage notes)

Usage notes

• In a negative sentence, möten or dörven are often used instead of bruken. For example, “you don’t need to go yet” is usually translated by du musst noch nich gahn instead of du bruukst noch nich to gahn.
• The verb nödig hebben is used to express the need of something.

Conjugation

Conjugation of bruken (weak verb)

infinitive	bruken
indicative	present	preterite
1st person singular	bruuk	bruuk
2nd person singular	bruuks(t)	bruuks(t)
3rd person singular	bruuk(t)	bruuk
plural	bruukt, bruuken	bruken
imperative	present	—
singular	bruuk(e)
plural	bruukt
participle	present	past
	bruken	(e)bruukt, gebruukt
Note: This conjugation is one of many; neither its grammar nor spelling apply to all dialects.

Etymology 2

From Middle Low German gebrūken, Old Saxon gibrūkan, from Proto-Germanic *gabrūkaną. See Etymology 1 above.

Verb

bruken (third-person singular simple present bruukt, past tense bruuk, past participle bruukt, auxiliary verb hebben)

1. to use

Conjugation

Conjugation of bruken (weak verb)

infinitive	bruken
indicative	present	preterite
1st person singular	bruuk	bruuk
2nd person singular	bruuks(t)	bruuks(t)
3rd person singular	bruuk(t)	bruuk
plural	bruukt, bruuken	bruken
imperative	present	—
singular	bruuk(e)
plural	bruukt
participle	present	past
	bruken	(e)bruukt, gebruukt
Note: This conjugation is one of many; neither its grammar nor spelling apply to all dialects.

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch *brūkan, from Proto-West Germanic *brūkan.

Verb

bruken

1. to use
2. to enjoy (the use/benefit of)
3. to lease (of land)
4. to sell (of small things)

Inflection

Weak
Infinitive	bruken
3rd sg. past	—
3rd pl. past	—
Past participle	—
Infinitive	bruken
In genitive	brukens
In dative	brukene
Indicative	Present	Past
1st singular	bruke	—
2nd singular	bruucs, brukes	—
3rd singular	bruuct, bruket	—
1st plural	bruken	—
2nd plural	bruuct, bruket	—
3rd plural	bruken	—
Subjunctive	Present	Past
1st singular	bruke	—
2nd singular	bruucs, brukes	—
3rd singular	bruke	—
1st plural	bruken	—
2nd plural	bruuct, bruket	—
3rd plural	bruken	—
Imperative	Present
Singular	bruuc, bruke
Plural	bruuct, bruket
	Present	Past
Participle	brukende	—

Derived terms

• gebruken
• misbruken
• ontbruken

Descendants

• Dutch: bruiken (archaic)
• Limburgish: broeke

Further reading

• “bruken”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “bruken”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

Middle Low German

Etymology

From Old Saxon brūkan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bruːkən/

Verb

brûken

1. to use, utilise, to make use of either an object or a right
2. to enjoy, to have use from
3. to need
4. to work in a craft

Declension

Conjugation of bruken as a weak verb

Plain Infinitive	brûken
Full Infinitive (Gerund)	tô brûkene or tô brûkende
Verbal Noun	brûken or brûkent
Participles			Imperatives
Present	brûkende		2nd Person Singular	brûke
Past	gebrûket		2nd Person Plural	brûket
	Indicative		Subjunctive
	Present	Preterite	Present	Preterite
1st Person Singular	brûke	brûkede	brûke	brûkede
2nd Person Singular	brûkest	brûkedest	brûkest	brûkedest
3rd Person Singular	brûket	brûkede	brûket	brûkede
Plural	brûken (brûket?)	brûkeden	brûken	brûkeden

Descendants

• Low German: bruken
• → Danish: bruge
• → Icelandic: brúka
• → Faroese: brúka
• → Norwegian Bokmål: bruke
• → Norwegian Nynorsk: bruke
• → Polabian: brükot
• → Swedish: bruka
  • → Finnish: ruukata

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• bruket

Noun

bruken m or n

1. definite masculine singular of bruk (Noun 1)

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

• bruket

Noun

bruken m or n

1. definite masculine singular of bruk (Noun 1)

Swedish

Noun

bruken

1. definite plural of bruk

Anagrams

• burken