gjest

Gjest is a term used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to denote a person invited to one's home or event, or someone who is staying temporarily as a guest. In Norwegian, the standard spelling is gjest, with grammatical forms such as gjesten (the guest) and gjester (the guests). The concept sits at the heart of hospitality and social etiquette, where hosting and accommodating visitors are common expectations.

In Danish and Swedish, cognate forms are gæst and gäst, respectively, reflecting shared linguistic roots across the Scandinavian region. Related words in Norwegian include gjestfrihet, meaning hospitality, and gjestgiveri, an inn or hostelry historically used to accommodate travelers. These terms illustrate how the notion of a guest extends beyond a single moment of arrival to broader social practices surrounding hosting.

Beyond everyday language, gjest can appear in cultural and historical contexts, such as in literature, folklore, or place names and surnames in some cases. While most uses center on the idea of a visitor, the word also intersects with concepts of welcome, guest rituals, and the channels through which communities receive outsiders.

See also: guest, hospitality, gjestfrihet, gjestgiveri.