Lovlig

Lovlig is an adjective used in Danish and Norwegian to describe something that is permitted by law or in accordance with legal rules. It characterizes actions, situations, or objects that do not violate statutes or regulations. In Danish and Bokmål Norwegian the standard form is lovlig, while Norwegian Nynorsk uses lovleg. The opposite term is ulovlig, meaning illegal. The word is frequently encountered in everyday speech as well as in formal legal language.

Etymology: The word combines the noun lov (law) with the adjectives suffix -lig, derived from Proto-Germanic, giving a meaning of "law-like" or "in accordance with the law." The concept has been part of legal vocabulary since medieval Scandinavian texts.

Usage and nuances: Lovlig describes compliance with legal rules, not moral propriety. It applies to actions, licenses, and statuses (for example, something is lovlig to do, or something is lovlig to possess). In regulatory contexts it can be used in phrases such as "lovlig i Norge" or "lovverket gjør dette lovlig." Distinctions exist: ulovlig means not permitted; the term does not imply legitimacy beyond legal allowance.

Related terms and cross-linguistic notes: Related terms in other Scandinavian languages include Swedish laglig and Icelandic löglegur, reflecting shared Germanic roots. The concept is central to regulation, compliance, and licensing in Nordic administrative practice.