barsk

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German barsch, from Old Saxon *barsk, from Proto-West Germanic *bars, from Proto-Germanic *barskaz, from *barsaz (“perch, bass”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰórs-o-s, from *bʰers- (“top, tip, point”).

Adjective

barsk (plural and definite singular attributive barske)

1. harsh, rough, tough

Declension

Inflection of barsk

	positive	comparative	superlative
indefinite common singular	barsk	barskere	barskest2
indefinite neuter singular	barsk	barskere	barskest2
plural	barske	barskere	barskest2
definite attributive1	barske	barskere	barskeste

¹ When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite,
the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
² The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

Derived terms

• barskhed

References

• “barsk” in Den Danske Ordbog

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German barsch, from Old Saxon *barsk, from Proto-Germanic *barskaz, from *barsaz (“perch, bass”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰórs-o-s, from *bʰers- (“top, tip, point”).

Adjective

barsk (neuter singular barskt, definite singular and plural barske, comparative barskere, indefinite superlative barskest, definite superlative barskeste)

1. harsh, rough, tough

References

• “barsk” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German barsch, from Old Saxon *barsk, from Proto-Germanic *barskaz, from *barsaz (“perch, bass”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰórs-o-s, from *bʰers- (“top, tip, point”).

Adjective

barsk (neuter singular barskt, definite singular and plural barske, comparative barskare, indefinite superlative barskast, definite superlative barskaste)

1. harsh, rough, tough

References

• “barsk” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German barsch, from Old Saxon *barsk, from Proto-Germanic *barskaz, from *barsaz (“perch, bass”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰórs-o-s, from *bʰers- (“top, tip, point”). Related to borst, borste, -borre (in abborre, sjöborre and kardborre), (possibly) barr (as in granbarr), brodd and brodera.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbaʂk/

Adjective

barsk (comparative barskare, superlative barskast)

1. gruff, stern (surly and stern)

   ett barskt svar

   a gruff reply

2. (figuratively) harsh, tough (of weather, terrain, or the like)

Declension

Inflection of barsk

Indefinite	positive	comparative	superlative1
common singular	barsk	barskare	barskast
neuter singular	barskt	barskare	barskast
plural	barska	barskare	barskast
masculine plural2	barske	barskare	barskast
Definite	positive	comparative	superlative
masculine singular3	barske	barskare	barskaste
all	barska	barskare	barskaste

¹ The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
² Dated or archaic.
³ Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.

References

• barsk in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• barsk in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)