Allmenn

Allmenn is a Norwegian adjective meaning general, public, or common to all. It is used to describe things intended for the general public or for non-specialized contexts, as opposed to private or specific, specialized uses. The term appears in a variety of compound nouns and phrases in Norwegian.

In education and law, allmenn occurs in several established formations. Allmennfag refers to general education subjects taught across study programs, particularly in secondary education, with an emphasis on broad foundational knowledge. Allmennlærerutdanning is the teacher-education program aimed at training teachers for general elementary and lower secondary instruction, focusing on broad subject knowledge and classroom skills applicable across subjects. Allmennrett, or public law, denotes the branch of law governing the state, public authorities, and their relationships with citizens and organizations, as distinct from private or civil law.

The noun form allmennhet (and its definite form allmennheten) denotes the general public or the public sphere, a concept used in democratic, transparency, and policy discussions. In everyday language, allmenn functions to distinguish general or non-specialized purposes, audiences, or information from those that are private or specialized.

Etymologically, allmenn derives from roots related to the broader sense of “all” or “general” in Norwegian and related Germanic languages, where the idea of commonality or universality is central. The term is widely used in Norwegian dictionaries and in educational, legal, and social discourse. See also offentlighet and allmennhet as related concepts.