gjenkall

Gjenkall is a Norwegian verb meaning to recall, revoke, or call back. It is used when something previously issued or stated is withdrawn or reversed, or when a person or object is brought back. The term can also describe retrieving information from memory, in which sense it is close to the English “recall.”

Etymology and sense: Gjenkall is formed from the prefix gjen- meaning back or again, combined with kalle meaning to call. The prefix signals a reversal or return, which is central to the verb’s core meanings: to call back, to revoke, or to retrieve.

Usage and contexts: Gjenkall is typically transitive and appears with a direct object, such as a decision, an order, or a statement. Common contexts include political or administrative actions (to gjenkalle a decision) and consumer safety or legal notices (to gjenkalle a directive or a claim). In everyday language, it can also describe recalling memories, as in the act of bringing a memory back to mind. The verb forms across tenses include present, past, and past participle, depending on the sentence.

Related terms: In discussing recalls, Norwegian often uses alternative terms such as tilbakekalle or tilbakekalling, especially in formal or technical contexts like product recalls. Gjenkallelse is another noun form related to the concept of recall. See also: tilbakekalle, gjenkallelse, tilbakekalling.

Note: While gjenkalle is widely understood, the most common terms for specific recall contexts can vary by domain, with gjenkalle and tilbakekalle used in overlapping ways.