varsel

Varsel is a noun used in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish to denote a warning, notice, or forewarning. The term covers both general cautions and formal communications issued by authorities, employers, or other organizations. In everyday language, it can describe any alert that signals potential risk or forthcoming action.

In employment law, varsel refers to a formal notice given to an employee about impending changes such as dismissal or significant restructuring. Phrases such as 'varsel om uppsägning' in Sweden or 'varsel om oppsigelse' in Norway are common; such notices often trigger statutory or contractual timelines for response or compensation.

In public safety and civil communications, varsel is used for warnings about weather, natural hazards, or other imminent danger. In weather contexts, varsel appears in compounds like 'værvarsel' which signals a weather warning or forecast. Similarly, authorities may issue 'varsel' for flood risk or other emergencies.

Cross-linguistically, the term is cognate across Scandinavian languages with a common sense of warning or notice. These terms are used in many official and everyday contexts to mark alerts that require attention or action.