oppgaven

Oppgaven is a Norwegian noun meaning an assignment, task, or problem to solve. It is used for a piece of work that someone is expected to complete, such as school homework, a work task, or a project component. The definite singular form oppgaven is used when referring to a specific assignment that is known in the context.

Morphology and varieties: In Bokmål Norwegian, oppgave is the base form; the indefinite singular is oppgave, and the definite singular is oppgaven; the plural is oppgaver. In Nynorsk, the corresponding form is oppgåve, with the definite singular oppgåva and the plural oppgåvar or oppgåvene depending on dialect. This reflects the two main written standards of Norwegian and their respective conventions for definite forms.

Usage and context: The term is common in education, workplaces, and research to denote tasks or problems that must be completed. It can refer to a homework problem, an exam question, or a component of a larger project. Example (Bokmål): Denne oppgaven må leveres innen fredag. Example (Nynorsk): Denne oppgåva må leverast innan fredag.

Etymology and cognates: Oppgaven is cognate with the Danish opgave and the Swedish uppgift, all conveying the idea of an assignment or task. The word belongs to the broader Germanic family and has parallel terms in many languages for educational and work-related duties.

See also: Homework, assignment, task, problem set.