Handlede

Handlede is the simple past (preterite) form of the verb handle in Danish and Norwegian Bokmål. It corresponds to meanings such as acted, dealt with, or traded, depending on the context. In Danish, handle can mean to act or to trade, and handlede is used for past actions or past transactions. Examples include jeg handlede hurtigt (I acted quickly) and de handlede varer (they traded goods). In Norwegian Bokmål, handlede serves a similar past-tense function for the verb handle, with examples like hun handlede raskt (she acted quickly) and de handlede varer (they traded goods). The exact meaning of a sentence with handlede is determined by surrounding words and the intended sense of the verb.

Etymology and cognates: The form handlede derives from the broader Germanic verb family for handling, acting, or trading. It has cognates and parallel forms in related Scandinavian languages, reflecting shared roots in the verbs for action and dealing.

Usage notes: Handlede appears in narratives, journalism, and everyday speech to describe completed actions or past dealings. In Danish and Norwegian, it can carry multiple senses, so translation hinges on context—whether the sense is acting, addressing a matter, or engaging in commerce. It coexists with other past-tense constructions in both languages, but remains a common and natural form for past reference.

See also: handle (disambiguation), håndtere.