Vanskelige

Vanskelige is the plural form of the Norwegian adjective vanskelig, meaning difficult or hard to do. It is used to describe plural nouns in the indefinite form, as in vanlige setninger? No—correct example: vanskelige oppgaver (difficult tasks). In the definite plural, the adjective takes the same form: de vanskelige oppgavene (the difficult tasks).

Grammar and usage notes: Norwegian adjectives agree with the noun in number and definiteness. For singular nouns, the form is vanskelig (en vanskelig oppgave; et vanskelig spørsmål). For plural nouns in the indefinite form, the form is vanskelige; in the definite plural, it remains vanskelige (de vanskelige oppgavene). In predicative position after a linking verb with a plural subject, the form is also vanskelige: Oppgavene er vanskelige.

Common contexts: vanskelige is widely used to express tasks, situations, or concepts that require significant effort, skill, or time. Typical collocations include vanskelige spørsmål (difficult questions), vanskelige valg (difficult choices), and vanskelige forhold (difficult conditions).

Etymology: Vanskelig originates in Norwegian and shares cognates with related North Germanic languages, reflecting the common development of the word meaning “difficult” across the region.

See also: vanskelighet (difficulty) and vanskelig (difficult). The form vanskelige specifically marks plural nouns in indefinite contexts and neuter/plural forms in standard Norwegian grammar.