Håndskreven

Håndskreven is a Norwegian adjective meaning “handwritten.” It is used to describe any text that has been produced by hand rather than by a mechanical or electronic device. The word derives from the Norwegian noun hand, referring to the hand, and the past participle of the verb skrive, which means “to write.” As such, håndskreven literally translates to “written by hand.”

In everyday usage, the term appears in contexts such as håndskrevne brev (handwritten letters), håndskrevne notater (handwritten notes) and håndskrevne manuskripter (handwritten manuscripts). It is often employed to emphasize the personal, intimate, or authentic nature of a text. When contrasted with digital writing, a håndskreven document is valued for its originality and for the unique insight it can provide into the author’s thoughts and habits.

Historically, much of Norway’s primary literature—from medieval runic inscriptions to 19th‑century diaries—was captured in håndskreven form. Archivists and palaeographers devote significant effort to preserving and interpreting such documents. In legal contexts, a håndskreven signature or clause may carry particular weight because of its resistance to fraud; many statutes still require or recognize håndskreven evidence.

The concept of håndskreven has parallels in other Scandinavian languages, such as dansk hedbrev and svensk handskrift, reflecting a shared cultural heritage that values the art of writing by hand.