anstrengelser

Anstrengelser is a noun used in Norwegian and Danish to denote efforts or exertions aimed at achieving something. It can describe both physical labor and mental effort, and it often appears in phrases such as making a significant effort to accomplish a task. The plural form anstrengelser is used when referring to multiple efforts.

The word derives from the verb anstrenge, meaning to strain or exert oneself. The suffix -else is a common way to form abstract nouns that denote actions or processes, giving anstrengelse or anstrengelse as the basis for the plural anstrengelser. In usage, the term tends to emphasize deliberate or strenuous activity rather than mere occurrence.

In practical use, anstrengelser can describe personal effort, collective endeavors, or the strenuous nature of a task. Norwegian examples include "Hun gjorde store anstrengelser for å lære språket" (She made great efforts to learn the language), while Danish usage parallels this, as in "De gjorde store anstrengelser for at få projektet gennemført" (They made great efforts to complete the project). The word often carries a sense of difficulty or persistence and is commonly found in formal writing, reports, or narratives about overcoming obstacles.

Related terms include anstrengelse (singular), the abstract noun for a single effort, and the verbs and adjectives related to the idea of exertion, such as anstrenge (to strain/exert) and anstrengende (strenuous). In English, the closest equivalents are “efforts” or “exertions.” See also related vocabulary in Scandinavian languages, where similar forms express the same concept.