Voksenlignende

Voksenlignende is a Norwegian adjective meaning adult-like or resembling an adult. It is formed from the noun voksen (adult) and the suffix -lignende (meaning -like or similar to), which is used to create adjectives that express resemblance. The term can describe physical appearance, behavior, or other characteristics that are associated with adults.

In usage, voksenlignende can refer to people as well as to animals, objects, or situations that show maturity or adult-like qualities. It is common in discussions about development, media, or social behavior, and it can apply to both tangible traits and more abstract ones such as demeanor or judgment. The word can be used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb, for example: "Hun har en voksenlignende ro i stemmen" (She has an adult-like calm in her voice) or "Oppførselen var voksenlignende" (The behavior was adult-like).

Etymologically, the suffix -lignende is productive in Norwegian for forming adjectives that indicate resemblance, as in other compounds like fuglelignende (bird-like) or skjellignende (scales-like). Voksenlignende thus fits within a broader pattern of describing how something or someone mirrors adult characteristics.

Overall, voksenlignende is a neutral descriptive term widely understood in Norwegian to convey that something exhibits traits typically associated with adults, without implying any specific age or stage beyond that resemblance.