Kjøret

Kjøret is a term found in certain Norwegian dialects and in older texts used to denote a drive or journey by vehicle. In modern standard Norwegian the corresponding verb is kjøre, and the past participle is kjørt; kjøret itself is not part of the current standard lexicon and is primarily encountered in regional or historical usage.

Etymology and form: Kjøret derives from the verb kjøre, with the definite suffix -et used in some dialects to form nouns from verbs. The form mirrors common Germanic patterns of turning a verb into a noun that denotes the action or its result. The exact historical development can vary by region and period, contributing to its limited contemporary presence.

Usage and meaning: In dialectal use, kjøret can mean the act of driving or the drive itself, i.e., a trip by car, carriage, or other vehicle. It may appear as a bare noun or in phrasing that treats the drive as a definite event, such as “en kjøret” for “a drive.” Today, however, speakers typically prefer kjøring (the act of driving) or kjørt (driven) in standard Norwegian, while kjøret remains mostly archaic or literary and largely confined to regional speech or historical texts.

Regional distribution and status: The term is attested in some Western and central Norwegian dialects and in older regional writings. Its use has declined with the standardization of Norwegian, and it is not commonly encountered in everyday speech. In contemporary dictionaries, kjøret is generally described as dialectal or historical.

Related terms: kjøre (to drive), kjørt (driven), kjøring (driving, the act of driving), and kjøretøy (vehicle).