enkelte

Enkelte is a word used in Norwegian and Danish with two broad functions: as a determiner or pronoun meaning “some” or “a few,” and less commonly as a noun meaning “an individual.” In both languages it signals a subset of a larger group rather than the whole.

In Norwegian, enkelte is typically placed before a plural noun to indicate a portion of the group, as in enkelte bøker (some books) or enkelte mennesker (a few people). It can also function as a pronoun, for example, Enkelte har reist seg. meaning “Some have stood up.” The term is common in formal or written style, including news reporting, policy texts, and academic writing. It is often contrasted with noen, which more neutrally means “some” without the same implication of a subset.

In Danish, enkelte serves a similar role and is used to refer to a subset of people or things, as in enkeltes personer (a few people). It is common in formal prose, journalism, and statistical reporting. In practice, enkelte tends to carry a slightly more deliberate or precise tone than nogle (Danish for “some”).

Etymology traces enkelte to the broader Germanic family, sharing the sense of “one” or “single” that underlies related forms in Scandinavian languages. Today, enkelte remains a relatively formal option for indicating portions of a group, distinct from general terms like noen/noen or flere/flere.

See also: some, a few; Norwegian noe or noen; Danish nogle.