bekymra

Bekymra is a term used in Norwegian, mainly in nynorsk and certain regional dialects, to describe a state of worry or anxiety. Grammatically, bekymra functions as an adjective meaning “worried” or “concerned” and can be used predicatively or attributively, as in examples like “Ho var bekymra for eksamen.” It is formed from the verb bekymre (to worry) and reflects common dialectal patterns in which verbs yield adjectives with the -a ending.

In standard Bokmål, the corresponding form is bekymret, while bekymra remains common in nynorsk and in speech varieties outside formal written Norwegian. Because of its regional usage, bekymra often appears in literature or dialogue intended to reflect authentic folk speech.

Usage notes: Bekymra typically conveys present or ongoing worry and can describe a person, a mood, or a situation. It is closely related to the noun bekymring, which denotes the concept of concern; bekymrande is an adjective meaning “worrying.”

See also: bekymring, bekymrande, bekymringar (nynorsk plural of bekymring), Norwegian dialects, nynorsk literature.