åpen

Åpen is a Norwegian adjective meaning not closed, accessible, or transparent. It describes physical state, such as a door or a window being open, and can also refer to spaces, containers, or settings that are not sealed. Beyond the literal sense, åpen is used for concepts or policies that are available or reachable to people, such as an open invitation or an open process.

In addition to describing objects or spaces, åpen is used for attitudes and approaches. When someone is åpen for forslag, they are receptive to new ideas or input, and when a process is described as åpen and inkluderende, it emphasizes transparency and accessibility. The term thus covers both concrete and abstract openness, including openness to discussion, collaboration, and different viewpoints.

The related noun form åpenhet denotes openness, transparency, or candidness. A common modern use is åpen kildekode, meaning open source, often paired with technology and software discussions. The phrase åpen kildekode programsvar is typical in Norwegian technical contexts. Other related expressions include åpen dør-policy (an open-door policy), illustrating how the word extends to organizational and social practices.

Across Nordic languages, cognate forms exist: Danish åben and Swedish öppen share the core meaning of openness. In Norwegian, the standard form åpen is used in both everyday speech and formal writing, reinforcing its role as a versatile descriptor of physical and figurative accessibility.