gjenstående

Gjenstående is a Norwegian word used as an adjective and, in some contexts, as a noun form meaning what remains after part of something has been used, dealt with, or completed. It describes quantities, tasks, or conditions that are not yet finished or that are left over.

Etymology and form: The term is built from the prefix gjen-, which in Norwegian generally conveys a sense of recurrence, reversal, or remaining, combined with the verb stå (to stand). The result is a word that signals that something is still standing or left behind. In usage, gjenstående most often functions as an adjective before a noun, but it can appear in certain phrases where it acts as a nominal descriptor.

Usage and examples: Gjenstående is common in formal and everyday contexts. It is used to refer to items or amounts that are yet to be dealt with, for example, gjenstående arbeid (the remaining work) or gjenstående beløp (the remaining amount). It may also appear in contexts describing unresolved questions or tasks, such as gjenstående spørsmål. In accounting or budgeting, it can indicate the outstanding total to be paid or reconciled, for instance, the gjenstående betaling.

Synonyms and related terms: Rest, remainder, eller overskudd can convey related ideas in Norwegian, but gjenstående emphasizes the status of still being left or unfinished. The word is widely understood in both formal writing and standard speech.