Forhandlingen

Forhandlingen is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to refer to two related concepts: the process of negotiation between parties and, in a legal context, the formal proceedings or hearing in a court or administrative body. In everyday use, the sense is often “negotiation” or “bargaining.” In legal settings, it more commonly denotes the formal stage of a case where arguments are presented, evidence is considered, and decisions are prepared. The precise meaning depends on context and accompanying words.

In practical use, forhandlinger (the plural form) describes bargaining rounds in labor relations, business deals, or contract talks, such as wage negotiations or settlement discussions. In the court or administrative domain, forhandling can denote the procedural phase of a case, including hearings, discussions, and exchanges between parties conducted under formal rules. The term may appear in phrases like “forhandling i retten” or “forhandlingene i en sak,” indicating the scheduled or ongoing formal process.

Etymologically, forhandling derives from the verb forhandle (to negotiate) combined with a noun-forming element, yielding a noun that covers action, process, and result. The definite singular form is forhandlingen, and the plural is forhandlingene. While usage varies slightly between Danish and Norwegian, the core meaning remains negotiation or procedural proceedings.

See also: negotiation, hearing, legal procedure, collective bargaining.