forlange

Forlange is a verb found in Danish and Norwegian that means to demand, to require, or to request something with insistence. It covers both everyday use and formal language, including administrative or legal contexts. In practice, it takes a direct object: for example, "Han forlangte en forklaring" (he demanded an explanation). Another common usage is to describe a formal request, as in "De forlangte et svar innen fristen" (they demanded a reply before the deadline).

It conveys a stronger or more formal sense than synonyms such as kræve in Danish or kreve in Norwegian and is often employed where a duty, condition, or entitlement is asserted. In legal or official texts, forlange can express that a condition must be met or that a right is being asserted, underscoring the authoritative or obligatory tone of the statement.

Etymology: Forlange stems from Old Danish and Old Norse and is cognate with the German verb verlangen, meaning to desire or to demand. It belongs to the Germanic family of verbs and has parallels in related languages today.