uttryket

Uttrykket is the definite singular form of the noun uttrykk in Norwegian Bokmål and Swedish, meaning "the expression" or "the phrase." The base forms uttrykk (Norwegian) and uttryck (Swedish) denote a unit of language that conveys meaning, such as a phrase, idiom, or set expression. In addition to everyday language, the term is used in mathematics to denote a mathematical expression composed of numbers, variables, and operators. Note: the standard definite singular is uttrykket in Norwegian and Swedish; the form uttryket is not standard in these languages.

Etymology and sense

The noun derives from the verb uttrykke, meaning "to express." The prefix ut- and the root related to pressing or pushing into speech reflect the idea of turning thoughts into words. Over time, uttrykk came to signify a concrete expression or phrase, and later the act of expressing something more generally.

Usage

In language, et uttrykk refers to a unit of meaning that may be literal or figurative. Fixed phrases and idioms are common types of uttrykk. For example, in Norwegian, an idiom such as "å slå to fluer i én smekk" is an uttrykk, while a simple phrase like "god morgen" is also an uttrykk. In mathematics, et uttrykk denotes a combination of numbers, symbols, and operators that represents a value, such as "3x + 5" or "(a + b)^2."

See also

Expression, phrase, idiom, linguistic expression, mathematical expression.