drakt

Drakt is a Norwegian term that refers to clothing, attire, or a costume. It is used to describe both everyday garments and more specialized outfits, including uniforms, workwear, and ceremonial or performance costumes. In everyday language, phrases like “å skifte drakt” (to change clothes) or “drakten til laget” (the team’s jersey) illustrate its broad range of use.

In Scandinavian languages, cognate terms exist with the same general meaning: Danish dragt and Swedish dräkt, both referring to dress or costume. The word is rooted in the Germanic linguistic family and is related to notions of clothing or equipment for the body, with meanings expanding over time to cover various forms of attire.

Culturally, drakt can appear in discussions of traditional dress. While Norway’s specific national or regional traditional dress is more precisely referred to as bunad, drakt can be used in a broader sense to describe regional or ceremonial attire, especially in historical or descriptive contexts. The concept also encompasses uniforms for work, sports, or service, as well as protective or occupational clothing.

In contemporary Norwegian, the term drakt is common across informal and formal registers. The plural form is drakter, reflecting its role as a general category for garments. See also bunad, uniform, costume, clothing.