nyttig

Nyttig is an adjective used in Scandinavian languages, notably Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Swedish, and Danish, to describe something that provides use, benefit, or practical value. It is commonly applied to information, advice, tools, or actions that contribute positively to a situation. In usage, nyttig can describe both concrete objects (a nyttig bok) and abstract concepts (nyttig information, nyttige råd).

Etymology and related forms: The term derives from the noun nytte, meaning use or benefit, with the adjectival suffix -ig. The overall sense is “producing usefulness.” Linguistically, nyttig is closely related across the Scandinavian languages, and it forms cognates with Dutch nuttig and German nützlich, which share the same core meaning of usefulness or practicality.

Usage notes: Nyttig is used predicatively and attributively. Predicatively, one might say in Norwegian, Dette kurset er nyttig. In Swedish, Det här rådet är nyttigt. Attributively, it appears before a noun in phrases such as nyttig informasjon, nyttige råd, or nyttig kunskap. The nuance of nyttig centers on practical value and benefit rather than general goodness or quality.

See also: The noun nytte covers the concept of use or benefit, and nyttighet denotes usefulness or usefulness value as a concept. Related Germanic parallels include Dutch nuttig and German nützlich.

In summary, nyttig is a versatile term for describing things that offer practical value, with straightforward cross-Scandinavian usage and clear cognates in related languages.