Varighet

Varighet is a Norwegian term that denotes the length of time something lasts. It refers to the temporal extent between a beginning and an end and is used in everyday language as well as in technical contexts. Varighet is a measure of how long an event or process occupies time, regardless of the speed at which it unfolds.

In music, varighet describes the duration of notes and rests. Musical notation uses rhythmic values such as whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and longer or shorter durations. Tempo marks relate to how fast or slow the beat moves, but varighet focuses on how long each sound or silence lasts within a sequence.

In science, engineering, and everyday life, varighet is the duration of an interval. It is quantified using standard time units such as seconds, minutes, and hours, with the second serving as the base unit in the International System of Units (SI). Timing devices like clocks, stopwatches, and digital sensors are used to measure varighet with varying precision.

In planning and media production, varighet influences pacing, scheduling, and resource allocation. The total varighet of a film, a lecture, or a project phase helps determine logistics and workflow.

Philosophically, varighet can also refer to the experienced, subjective sense of time—the way duration feels from the inside. In Norwegian discussions, discussions of duration often intersect with concepts of change, memory, and consciousness, sometimes drawing on the broader idea of durée from philosophical literature.