kvinnekjønn

Kvinnekjønn, literally feminine gender, is a grammatical category used to classify nouns in Norwegian and related Scandinavian languages. It denotes a class of nouns that, in agreement with other words in a noun phrase, typically take feminine forms of adjectives and determiners. Kvinnekjønn is the counterpart of mannkjønn (masculine gender) and intetkjønn (neuter gender).

Historical and linguistic context: Norwegian originally had three grammatical genders. In nynorsk, the three-gender system is retained and taught as part of standard grammar. In Bokmål, the language has undergone substantial simplification, and many feminine nouns have been reanalyzed as part of felleskjønn, the common gender that covers both masculine and feminine nouns. As a result, the explicit use of kvinnekjønn is less frequent in daily Bokmål, though it remains an active category in nynorsk and in historical or descriptive grammar.

Contemporary usage: The role of kvinnekjønn varies by written standard. In nynorsk, feminine nouns continue to form agreements and inflections characteristic of the gender. In bokmål, feminine forms often align with the common gender, affecting article choice and adjective agreement. Some nouns retain clear feminine endings or patterns, while others are treated as common gender or neuter depending on usage and regional convention.

Overview: Kvinnekjønn is a key concept in the traditional Norwegian gender system and remains relevant for understanding nynorsk grammar and historical descriptions. It is less central in modern bokmål usage, where many feminine nouns are incorporated into the common gender system.