Ungene

Ungene is a Norwegian term meaning the kids or the youngsters. It is the definite plural form of the word ung, used to refer to children or a group of young people in a general sense. The word is common in everyday speech, newspapers, and literature, and it often serves as a straightforward descriptor of youth.

Etymology and usage: Ung comes from a root meaning young, and the definite plural suffix -ene is used to form ungene, translating to “the young ones” or “the kids.” The construction is typical of Norwegian noun and adjective morphology, where a descriptor is used with a definite plural to denote a specific group. In sentences, ungene typically functions as the subject or object of a verb, e.g., Ungene leker i parken (The kids are playing in the park).

Examples: The term appears across colloquial speech and prose. Common sentences include: Ungene i nabolaget er glade for snøen. De unge skolenærmet møttes ved bussholdeplassen, and Ungene skal få is etter skolen.

Cultural and media usage: The word is widely understood and can appear in headlines, fiction, and dialogue to evoke youth or childhood without implying a particular individual. While Ungene may be used as a title or in media contexts, such uses are not associated with a single canonical work and vary by region and year. The term remains a neutral, descriptive reference to children or young people in Norwegian.