stykkene

Stykkene is the definite plural form of the Norwegian noun stykke, meaning a piece, part, or portion. It is used when referring to multiple pieces of something that are known within the context, such as components of a set or portions of food.

Form and usage: In Bokmål, the indefinite plural of stykke is stykker, while the definite plural is stykkene. The form stykkene signals that the speaker and listener are talking about specific pieces that have already been identified or are understood from context. Examples include De tre stykkene ble lagt i esken (The three pieces were placed in the box) and Stykkene i dette settet passer sammen (The pieces in this set fit together). The word can describe physical objects (cakes, puzzle pieces) or portions in other contexts.

Etymology: Stykkene derives from the Old Norse stykki, meaning piece, with the modern Norwegian form developing through the Middle Norwegian period into Bokmål. The term has cognates in other Scandinavian languages that share the same root.

Usage notes: Stykkene is a countable noun used for plural references to identifiable parts. In everyday speech, the indefinite plural is stykker (e.g., tre stykker), while stykkene marks a definite set (e.g., de stykkene). The word is common in cooking, games, manufacturing, and descriptions of assemblies, where it denotes components rather than a single unit.

See also: stykke, stykker.