tilgjengelig

Tilgjengelig is a Norwegian adjective meaning that something can be obtained, used, or reached, or that a person is reachable or available. It is used for goods, information, services, and people. In everyday language you might say that a book is tilgjengelig in a bookstore or that a teacher is tilgjengelig after class. In technical contexts, the word also describes systems or services that are online or operational, such as a server or a website being tilgjengelig.

Etymology and form: The word is formed as a compound with the suffix -elig, which marks adjectives meaning “able to be.” The base plassholder gjengelig or tilgjengelig denotes something that can be reached or obtained, so tilgjengelig literally conveys “able to be accessed.” The related noun tilgjengelighet expresses the state or quality of being available or accessible.

Usage and nuance: Tilgjengelig is common in everyday language and in formal contexts. It can describe physical availability (stocked items, open hours), service availability (a helpline that is tilgjengelig 24/7), or digital accessibility (content that is accessible to users with varying needs). In discussions of design and public services, tilgjengelighet is often used with a focus on ease of access for all, including people with disabilities, aligning with universal design principles.

See also: tilgjengelighet, universell utforming, digital tilgjengelighet.