Bokstavelig

Bokstavelig is a Norwegian adjective meaning literal or in the literal sense. It describes interpretation, wording, or meaning that corresponds to the primary, ordinary sense of words, as opposed to figurative or metaphorical meanings. The phrase bokstavelig betydning refers to this direct meaning, while figurativ betydning refers to implied or metaphorical sense. In everyday speech, bokstavelig can be used to emphasize exactness, and speakers sometimes say bokstavelig talt (literally) for emphasis.

The term is commonly contrasted with figurative language. For example, the expression å slå to fluer i en smekk is figurativ and means to achieve two goals at once; a bokstavelig tolkning would be to physically strike two birds with one blow, which misses the intended sense. Similarly, a phrase like det regner bøtter og spann may be understood idiomatically, whereas a bokstavelig reading would focus on buckets and pails literally.

Etymology and sense-making: bokstavelig is formed from bokstav, meaning letter, and the suffix -lig, yielding a sense of “in the letters” or “in accordance with the letters.” This underlines the idea of plain, explicit meaning as opposed to implied or contextual meaning.

Usage and nuance: in religious or legal contexts, bokstavelig tolkning denotes reading texts by their plain, literal sense, sometimes contrasted with åndelig eller metaforisk tolkning. Related terms include ordrett (word-for-word), bokstavtro (letter-of-the-law), and overført betydning (figurative meaning). The distinction between bokstavelig and figurativ is central to discussions of interpretation in Norwegian.