forårsake

Forårsake is a verb in Norwegian Bokmål meaning "to cause" or "to bring about." It denotes that an action or event produces a result. The verb is transitive and commonly pairs with a direct object representing the outcome, such as damage, problems, or a consequence.

Etymology and forms: The word comes from for- plus årsake, derived from the noun årsak meaning "cause." In Norwegian Bokmål, the infinitive is forårsake; present tense forårsaker; past tense forårsaket; and past participle forårsaket. The cognate Danish verb is forårsage, with present tense forårsager, past tense forårsagede, and past participle forårsaget.

Usage: Forårsake is used in formal, neutral writing, including legal, scientific, and journalistic contexts. Examples: "Regn kan forårsake vannskader" (Rain can cause water damage); "Denne hendelsen kan forårsake alvorlige konsekvenser" (This event can cause serious consequences). The verb can describe both human actions and natural phenomena as the source of an effect. A related construction is å være årsak til (to be the cause of), which focuses on the relationship between cause and effect rather than the action itself.

See also: årsak, forvolde, skape. In discussing causation, English speakers may compare to "to cause" and to related terms like "to induce" or "to result in," depending on nuance and context.