liten

Liten is an adjective used in Scandinavian languages, principally Norwegian and Swedish, with the meaning of small or little. It describes size, extent, or degree and can be used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb.

In Norwegian and Swedish, liten functions like other adjectives in these languages, adjusting to the gender and number of the noun it modifies. It is common in everyday speech and writing to encounter phrases such as a liten hund or en liten by, and to hear or read sentences like hunden er liten or boken är liten, where the adjective follows the verb and conveys the compact or modest size of the subject.

Etymology and cognates are typical of the Germanic language family. Liten is related to the English word little and to cognates in other Germanic languages, reflecting a shared lineage for terms that express smallness or diminutiveness.

Cognate forms appear across related languages, usually with parallel meanings and similar usage patterns. While the exact inflection and pronunciation can vary by language and dialect, the core sense remains consistent: liten denotes something not large in size or degree and can be deployed in comparative or descriptive contexts as part of normal grammar.

Usage notes include its use in everyday description, in comparisons, and in idiomatic expressions where size or emphasis is involved. As with other adjectives in Norwegian and Swedish, the precise form and placement of liten align with standard rules of agreement in the sentence, ensuring coherence with surrounding nouns and verbs.

See also: Norwegian language, Swedish language, Germanic languages, size (linguistics).