forsøker

Forsøker is a Norwegian verb meaning to try or to attempt. It is the present tense form of the verb å forsøke and is used with all subjects: jeg forsøker, du forsøker, han/hun forsøker, vi forsøker, dere forsøker, de forsøker. The infinitive is å forsøke. The preterite form is forsøkte and the supine or past participle is forsøkt. In perfect tenses it combines with have/has as in har forsøkt. The verb typically governs an infinitive clause, as in Hun forsøker å lære norsk (She is trying to learn Norwegian).

The word can also be used in a broad sense to describe attempts in various contexts, such as attempts to solve a problem, to contact someone, or to achieve a goal. In many Norwegian sentences, forsøke is interchangeable with prøve, though the nuance differs: forsøke often emphasizes effort and ongoing or eventual attempts, while prøve can carry a sense of testing or trying something more momentarily.

From a grammatical standpoint, the verb is intransitive in the sense that it often introduces a following infinitive clause (å + verb) rather than taking a direct object. The related noun form et forsøk means "an attempt" or "a trial" and can also refer to an experiment. The plural forsøk appears in contexts discussing multiple attempts or experiments.

Cognates exist in neighboring Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish försöker and Danish forsøger, reflecting a shared Germanic heritage. The related noun forms are et försök in Swedish and et forsøg in Danish.