avslå

Avslå is a Norwegian verb meaning to reject, deny, or refuse a proposal, request, or claim. It is used when a decision does not grant what was asked. It is transitive and takes a direct object, as in avslå en søknad (deny an application), avslå et tilbud (reject an offer), or avslå et krav (refuse a claim). The corresponding noun is avslag, meaning a denial or rejection, as in et avslag på søknaden.

In administrative, legal, or formal contexts, avslå is common in phrases such as å avslå søknaden or avslå tilbudet. It can also be used in everyday language. The passive form is det ble avslått (it was refused).

Related verbs and nuances: avvise is another way to express rejection, often used in more formal or definitive contexts, while nekte emphasizes a refusal or denial without grant. The noun avslag is widely used to refer to the decision itself, for example, a denial of an application or a rejection of a proposal.

Etymology and usage notes: avslå comes from the prefix av- meaning away or off and the verb slå, historically meaning to strike or knock down; the combination extended to the sense of striking down a proposal or request. In Norwegian, avslå is a standard, neutral term suitable for both spoken and written language.