Forsøk

Forsøk is a term used in Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish with two main meanings: an attempt to do something, or a controlled test or experiment. In everyday language it denotes trying something new, while in scientific and medical contexts it refers to a procedure designed to investigate a hypothesis or evaluate a treatment.

The word comes from the North Germanic language family, with a common root in the verbs for seeking or trying. In Norwegian and Danish it is formed from the prefix for- and the verb søke/søke (to seek), while Swedish uses för- and söka. The sense has shifted from “to seek a result” to “to conduct an attempt” and to “to conduct an experiment.”

In practice, forsk- usage varies: “forsøk” is often used for formal investigations or experiments, whereas “prøve” tends to denote a test, sample, or trial of goods. In science and medicine the term appears in phrases such as “kliniske forsøk” or “kliniske studier” for clinical trials. Researchers might refer to randomized or controlled investigations as forsøk in Norwegian contexts.

Examples: Norwegian: “Jeg gjorde et forsøk på å løse problemet.” Norwegian: “Forsøkene ble gjennomført under kontrollerte forhold.” In English-language summaries, the word corresponds to “attempt” or “experiment” depending on context, with the Norwegian usage closely mirroring that distinction.