Behersket

Behersket is a Nordic term used in Danish and Norwegian to describe someone who has mastered a skill or has command of a subject. It corresponds to the Swedish adjective behärskat, and to the English words mastered, proficient, or well-versed. The sense is that a person can use or apply a skill with competence and confidence, beyond basic familiarity.

In practice, behersket describes a high level of competence rather than casual familiarity. It can apply to languages, musical instruments, technical abilities, or professional tasks. The term is most often used in formal or evaluative contexts, such as assessments, resumes, or performance descriptions.

Etymology and cognates: the forms come from the verb beherske or behärska, meaning to master or to have command of. The words share roots with other Germanic languages; in Swedish the past participle is behärskat, while Danish and Norwegian retain behersket. All forms express the idea of mastery rather than mere acquaintance.

See also: mastery, proficiency, language proficiency, skill, competence.