Behøvet

Behøvet is a Norwegian word linked to the verb behøve, meaning to need or require. It typically appears as the past participle of the verb and is used in perfect tense constructions to indicate that something has been needed. In modern standard Norwegian, the common noun for “need” is behov, and behøvet as a noun is largely found in older texts, literary language, or regional speech as a historical or stylistic form.

Etymology and cognates: The form is cognate with Danish behøve and Danish past participle behøvet, as well as Swedish behöva. The root traces back to Old Norse, with related forms across the Scandinavian languages that convey the sense of needing or requiring.

Usage and status: In contemporary Norwegian, behøvet as a noun is rare and typically regarded as archaic or literary. The standard noun for the concept is behov, used in everyday language. The verb behøve exists in Norwegian grammar, but its usage follows regular Norwegian inflection patterns, and speakers usually favor contemporary forms in ordinary prose. behøvet thus appears most often in historical writing, poetic contexts, or dialectal speech.

See also: behov; behøve; Norwegian language; Danish language.