favoriserer

Favoriserer is a verb used in Danish and Norwegian to mean to favor, to prefer, or to give preferential treatment to someone or something. The term describes acting with preference or bias, often in decisions about allocation of resources, opportunities, or support. It can be transitive, taking a direct object, and the present tense form is used for third-person singular in both languages.

Etymology traces favoriserer to the French verb favoriser (to favor), which in turn derives from Old French faveur and ultimately from Latin favor, meaning support or goodwill. The word entered Danish and Norwegian through historical contact with French and later became integrated into the standard vocabularies of both languages.

Usage and nuance vary by context. In formal or administrative writing, favoriser can indicate giving an advantage to a person, group, or option—such as in policy decisions, recruitment, or funding allocations. The term can be neutral, describing a real bias toward certain choices, or carry negative connotations when understood as nepotism or unfair preferential treatment. In everyday language it is often used to describe deliberate support or prioritization of a preferred alternative.

Orthography and regional use: In Danish, the infinitive is at favorisere and the present tense is favoriserer. In Norwegian Bokmål, the infinitive is å favorisere and the present tense is favoriserer. The word is a common loanword in both languages and is widely understood, though stylistic choices may vary by register. See also bias, preferential treatment, and favoritism.