innestengt

Innestengt is a Norwegian adjective meaning confined or enclosed within a space, or figuratively restricted by circumstances. The word is formed from the prefix inn- meaning inside and stenge meaning to close, with the standard past participle ending -t giving innestengt. It is used to describe something that has been closed in or surrounded, as if unable to move freely.

In physical contexts, innestengt can describe a person or animal that cannot leave a space, for example a prisoner kept inside a cell, or a bird kept in a cage: "fuglen var innestengt i buret." In everyday language it can describe situations that feel closed off, such as being "innestengt i snøværet" or "innestengt av regler" when one is restricted by rules or circumstances. It is often interchangeable with innelåst, though innestengt emphasizes being surrounded or boxed in rather than locked by a mechanism.

In standard Norwegian, innestengt is neutral and widely understood in Bokmål; it is also found in Nynorsk usage. Related terms include innelåst (locked inside), isolert (isolated), and begrenset (limited). The term should not be used for formal legal imprisonment, where fengslet or varetekt is more appropriate.

Examples:

Fuglen var innestengt i buret.

Jeg er innestengt hjemme på grunn av snøværet.