oskyldig

Os skyldig is a Norwegian adjective meaning not guilty or innocent. It is used to describe a person, action, or statement as free from blame or fault. In everyday language it can refer to someone who is not responsible for a perceived wrongdoing, or to the lack of evidence establishing guilt in a given situation. In legal contexts, oskyldig often appears in phrases indicating absence of guilt toward charges or accusations, though more formal terms like ikke skyldig or frifunnet are also common.

Etymology and form: the word is built from the stem skyldig (guilty) with a negating prefix, forming oskyldig, literally “not guilty.” It functions as a standard adjective and follows Norwegian grammar rules for adjective agreement with the noun it modifies. The plural form is oskyldige, and definite forms attach to the noun as appropriate (for example, den/oskyldige mannen, de oskyldige menneskene).

Usage notes: oskyldig is typically used for persons or things considered morally or legally faultless in the context described. It is commonly contrasted with skyldig (guilty). In some sentences, it can be replaced by uttrykk som ukren; however, the most common equivalents are innocent or not guilty, depending on the context. The term should not be confused with less common variants such as uskyldig, which exists in some dialects but is less standard.

See also: skyldig, ikke skyldig, frifunnet, innocens, innocence.