alternativer

Alternativer is a term used in several North Germanic languages to denote options or choices. It is the plural form of the noun alternativ and is commonly found in everyday speech, business, and policy discussions to refer to one of several possible courses of action.

The word derives from Latin alternativus, meaning relating to alternation or choice, and entered Scandinavian languages in the modern period through continental sources as part of the expansion of political and technical vocabulary.

In Norwegian Bokmål and Danish, alternativer is the standard plural for the word meaning options. In Swedish, the corresponding plural is often alternativ, with alternativen used as the definite plural form. These inflection patterns reflect the broader Germanic pluralization rules used in the region.

Alternativer are used whenever a decision requires choosing among multiple options. They appear in contexts such as business planning, public policy, education, and product development. Examples include: "Bedriftens ledelse vurderer tre alternativer for kostnadskutt." and "Kandidaten foreslår flere alternativer til løsning." The English equivalent is alternatives or options.

See also: alternative, option, choice.