kvinne

Kvinne is the Norwegian word for an adult female human being. It is used to refer to women in general as well as to a specific woman. The word contrasts with jente (girl) and is typically used for adults in everyday language, formal writing, and public discourse.

The plural form is kvinner, and the definite forms are kvinnen (the woman) and kvinnene (the women). In grammar, the word functions as a standard noun across registers and can appear in many contexts, from casual speech to official texts.

Etymology and cognates: The Norwegian term is cognate with Danish kvinde and Swedish kvinna, and it shares roots with other Germanic languages. The English word woman is a distant relative in the broader family of words for adult female humans.

Usage and nuance: Kvinne is a neutral, widely used term for adult women. In polite or formal contexts, other terms such as dame may be used to convey formality or respect, while jente refers to a girl, and mann refers to a man. The word appears in discussions of gender, health, law, and social policy, and it figures prominently in phrases describing women as a social group or as individuals.