virkelig

Virkelig is a common North Germanic word used in Norwegian and Danish, with two primary senses: as an adjective meaning real or genuine, and as an adverb meaning really, truly, or actually. In Norwegian, the Bokmål spelling is virkelig; in Norwegian Nynorsk a cognate form is verkeleg. Danish uses virkelig with the same dual function.

As an adjective, virkelig describes authenticity or genuineness, for example a real/true article or a genuine experience. As an adverb, det brukes to intensify adjectives, verbs, or clauses: for example, Det er virkelig bra (that is really good), Dette er virkelig interessant (this is really interesting), or Han gjorde det virkelig vondt (it really hurt him). It can also express disbelief in questions, as in Virkelig? (Really?).

Usage notes and nuances:

- The word functions as a general intensifier, often stronger than veldig in Norwegian or meget in Danish, though regional styles vary.

- It is applicable with most adjectives and many verbs, and its placement is flexible for emphasis, typically preceding the word it modifies.

- In formal or written Norwegian, alternatives like virkelig or faktisk may be chosen for different tones; in colloquial speech, virkelig is among the most common intensifiers.

- The cognate form in Norwegian Nynorsk is verkeleg, and Danish preserves the form virkelig with the same meanings.

Relation to related terms:

- Verkeleg/virkelig are closely related to words meaning real or true, such as ekte (genuine) in Norwegian and real (in Danish), though usage differs by context.

- The root sense centers on authenticity and emphasis, rather than a simple temporal meaning of “real.”

See also: authenticity, emphasis in Scandinavian languages, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Danish.