Udtrykkene

Udtrykkene is the definite plural form of the word uttrykk (Norwegian) or udtryk (Danish), meaning expressions, phrases, or idioms. The term is used to refer to fixed combinations of words whose meaning may extend beyond the literal meanings of the individual words. In everyday language, udtrykkene covers idioms, common collocations, and other conventional ways of saying things.

Grammatical note: In Norwegian Bokmål, the related forms include uttrykk (singular), uttrykk (indefinite plural), and uttrykkene (definite plural). In Danish, the corresponding definite plural is udtrykkene. The term is widely used in dictionaries, grammar guides, and linguistic descriptions of phraseology across Danish and Norwegian.

Usage and function: Udtrykkene is used to discuss non-literal language, figurative expressions, and set phrases that are often learned as units rather than built from word to word. They appear in language education, literature, media, and everyday speech as a way to describe how people express ideas, attitudes, or humor.

Examples and scope: Typical udtryk include idioms such as a Norwegian expression meaning “to accomplish two goals at once.” While some udtrykk are clearly figurative, others are fixed collocations or conventional phrases used in specific registers, such as formal, informal, or regional speech. The term helps distinguish between literal word meanings and conventional language use.

See also: idiom, expression (linguistics), phraseology, collocation.