muntlige

Muntlige is an adjective used in Danish and Norwegian to describe something spoken or delivered by mouth, as opposed to written. The form muntlige is typically used with plural nouns or in the definite plural construction, for example muntlige eksamener (oral exams) and muntlige presentasjoner, or muntlige prøver (oral tests). The term is common in educational contexts and in discussions of verbal communication. In Danish, equivalents follow a similar pattern, producing phrases such as muntlige eksamener or muntlige præsentationer.

In practical use, muntlige describes exams, assessments, reports, or proceedings that are delivered verbally rather than in writing. It is often contrasted with skriftlige or skriftlig, meaning written. The concept is central to educational settings where students are evaluated through oral examinations or presentations. In legal or governmental contexts, muntlige høringer or muntlige forklaringer may be used to refer to spoken hearings or testimonies.

Etymology and cognates: muntlig derives from roots related to the mouth and speech, a pattern that is common across Germanic languages for terms associated with spoken language. The form muntlige reflects standard inflection used to modify plural nouns in Danish and Norwegian.

See also: oral examination, oral presentation, muntlig eksamen, muntlig prøve, muntlige høringer.