følsom

Følsom is an adjective used in Danish and Norwegian with two principal meanings. It can describe a person who is easily affected by emotions or by others’ moods, i.e., emotionally sensitive. It can also describe something that reacts to small stimuli—physically sensitive, such as skin or a surface that is easily irritated. In addition, følsom can denote situations or objects that require careful handling, i.e., delicate.

The word derives from the verb to feel, føles or føle, and the suffix -som, common to adjectives in the Scandinavian languages. Related nouns include følelse (feeling) and følsomhet/følsomhed (sensitivity). The sense of being easily affected can be positive (empathetic, considerate) or negative (overly sensitive, fragile).

Usage notes: In everyday speech, følsom often refers to people, e.g., "hun er følsom for kritikk" or "han er følelsesmessig følsom." For data or information, phrases like "føløsomme oplysninger" or more commonly "følsomme oplysninger/information" denote sensitive information. For physical attributes, "følsom hud" or "følsomt smaksløft" denotes heightened perception. The term is neutral, but context determines whether it carries a positive or negative nuance; "overfølsom" emphasizes excess sensitivity.