usannsynlige

Usannsynlige is a Norwegian adjective meaning unlikely or improbable, and in some contexts also used to convey that something is hard to believe. It is used to describe events, outcomes, or persons whose probability is low or whose credibility is in question. The word appears in both Bokmål and Nynorsk and is commonly found in everyday language, journalism, and storytelling.

Etymology and form: Usannsynlige is formed from the base adjective sannsynlig (likely, plausible) with the negating prefix u-, producing the opposite sense. The form usannsynlige is the plural or definite form used before plural nouns, as in usannsynlige hendelser (unbelievable events). The singular indefinite form is en/usannsynlig hendelse (an unlikely event), while the definite plural would appear as de usannsynlige hendelsene.

Usage notes: Usannsynlige can appear attributively, preceding the noun it describes, or predicatively, as in Det er usannsynlig. The nuance ranges from merely improbable to strikingly difficult to believe, depending on context and tone. In media and literature, it often signals surprise, skepticism, or the need to question expectations.

Related terms: Sannsynlig means likely; usannsynlighet refers to improbability or the quality of being unlikely. The related adverb sannsynligvis means probably, whereas usage of usannsynlig appears less common as an adverb and more as an adjective modifying nouns.

See also: sannsynlig, usannsynlighet, sannsynlighet.