øyenes

Øyene is the definite plural form of the Norwegian noun øy, meaning "island." The word is used in Norwegian to refer to a specific group of islands within a region, or more generally to an archipelago. In everyday language the indefinite plural is øy er (øyer), while the definite plural is øyene (the islands). The form appears in both Bokmål and Nynorsk.

Etymology and cognates: The term derives from Old Norse ey, meaning island. It is related to other Nordic forms such as Icelandic eyjar and Danish øer, all referring to land surrounded by water. The modern Norwegian definite plural suffix -ene attaches to the plural stem.

Geographic usage: In maps, travel writing, and local description, øyene denotes the collection of islands in a given area, for example in phrases like "øyene ved kysten" or "øyene i Nordland." It can function as a descriptive term in regional descriptions, and may also appear in local place names or informal references to an archipelago. The word itself is neutral and does not specify political boundaries unless additional context is provided.

Language and culture: The term is common in everyday Norwegian when discussing trips, ferries, or coastal geography. In related Nordic languages, parallel forms exist: Swedish öarna, Danish øerne, and Icelandic eyjar.

See also: Islands; Archipelago; Nordic toponyms.