begavet

Begavet is a Norwegian and Danish adjective meaning having natural ability or talent in a particular field. It describes people who show aptitude beyond the ordinary, in areas such as mathematics, music, sports, or the arts. The term is commonly used in education, journalism, and everyday speech to indicate recognized potential or high competence. It can describe both children and adults and is used predicatively, as in Hun er begavet i matematikk, and attributively, as in en begavet elev.

Etymology: Begavet derives from the verb begave, meaning to endow or grant a gift; the adjective literally conveys that someone is endowed with gifts.

Usage notes: Begavet emphasizes natural, innate ability, as opposed to skills acquired solely through training. While broadly positive, it is sometimes discussed in debates about labeling or early tracking in education, since it can influence expectations and opportunities. The term is used across Norwegian and Danish and is cognate with similar forms in other Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish begåvad, which has a related but orthographically distinct form.