avsløre

Avsløre is a verb used in Norwegian Bokmål (and in related Scandinavian languages such as Danish, with a cognate form afsløre) that means to reveal or disclose information that has been hidden. It is typically used for making known facts, secrets, or intentions that were previously not public. The verb is transitive, as in avsløre en hemmelighet (to reveal a secret) or avsløre identiteten (to disclose the identity). In journalism, law, and investigative contexts, avsløre is common when uncovering wrongdoing or exposing previously concealed information. The nuance is generally neutral to negative, depending on what is revealed and how it is received.

Etymology: the word is formed from the prefix av- meaning “un-” or “off” combined with sløre, which means to veil or obscure. Thus avsløre literally conveys removing a veil to make something visible.

Conjugation (Norwegian Bokmål): infinitive avsløre; present avslører; past avslørte; past participle avslørt; imperative avslør. These forms are used across standard written and spoken Norwegian.

Cross-linguistic note: while avsløre is Norwegian (and Danish afsløre), the Swedish equivalent is avslöja. All share the same core meaning and a common root related to unveiling or removing a veil.

See also: avsløring (a revelation or disclosure), hemmelighet (secret), åpenhet (transparency).