grønn

Grønn is the Norwegian term for the color green. It functions as an adjective describing objects, landscapes, and other things that have the color green, and it also appears in idiomatic and figurative expressions.

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from Old Norse grænn and is cognate with Danish grøn and Swedish grön. These forms all trace back to a Proto-Germanic root associated with growth and vitality. The modern Norwegian spelling grønn reflects regular phonological changes in the language, and there are related forms in related Scandinavian languages.

Usage and contexts: In everyday language, grønn describes color in nature, art, design, and fashion. In contemporary discourse, it also appears in eco- and sustainability contexts to denote environmentally friendly practices, products, and policies. Phrases such as grønn teknologi (green technology) and grønn politikk (green politics) are common, as are references to grønne produkter or a grønn omstilling to signal environmental initiatives. The term can also appear in horticultural or agricultural descriptions when noting plant health or ripeness, depending on context.

Variant forms and grammar: Like other Norwegian adjectives, grønn participates in inflection for number and definiteness, which affects the ending in phrases like en grønn bil or den grønne bilen. Variants exist across dialects and between Bokmål and Nynorsk usage, but grønn is the standard form in Bokmål for the color and related adjectival use.

See also: Green (color), Green politics, Eco-labels.