manglende

Manglende is an adjective used in Danish and Norwegian to describe something that is absent, missing, or not present. It is formed from the verb mangle (to lack) with the participle suffix -ende, and is closely related to the noun mangel (lack). In typical usage, manglende precedes the noun it modifies, as in manglende dokumentation (missing documentation), manglende informasjon (lacking information), or manglende bevis (missing evidence).

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from the verb mangle and shares its root with the noun mangel, both expressing an absence or insufficiency. The construction is common across both Danish and Norwegian, reflecting shared linguistic heritage in the Scandinavian language area.

Grammatical notes: In Danish and Norwegian, manglende behaves as a regular attributive adjective and agrees with the noun in number and gender. It is most often used attributively before the noun. Predicative use is less common; speakers typically use a verb such as mangler (lacks/missing) or finnes/er ikke to convey absence, e.g., dokumentasjonen mangler or dokumentasjonen finnes ikke.

Usage and domains: Manglende appears across formal and informal registers, including administrative, legal, academic, and media contexts, to indicate deficiencies, gaps, or missing elements in information, processes, or outcomes. It functions as a precise descriptor of incompleteness without attributing blame.

See also: mangel (lack), mangle (to lack), manglende dokumentasjon.