Overview
The Danish word 'bukser' directly translates to 'pants' or 'trousers' in English. It is a common noun and is notable for its plural-only usage in most contexts, much like its English counterparts. While a singular form, 'buks', technically exists, it is rarely encountered in modern spoken or written Danish, except in very specific or technical contexts, such as describing a single leg of a garment or in archaic language. Therefore, when referring to the item of clothing, one should always use 'bukser'.
Grammatically, 'bukser' follows the standard declension for plural common nouns. In the indefinite plural, it remains 'bukser' (e.g., 'to bukser' - two pairs of pants). In the definite plural, it becomes 'bukserne' (e.g., 'de bukserne' - those pants). The gender of the word is typically considered common, but as it's almost always plural, the concept of singular gender agreement becomes less relevant.
Etymologically, 'bukser' has roots in Old Norse 'buxur', which itself is believed to have been borrowed from Low German or Dutch. This historical connection is evident in similar words across Germanic languages, such as the English 'breeches', indicating a shared linguistic heritage for clothing terminology.
Beyond its literal meaning, 'bukser' appears in several common Danish idioms. A prominent example is 'at have bukserne på', which literally means 'to have the pants on' but idiomatically signifies 'to be in charge' or 'to wear the pants' in a relationship or situation. Another, more playful, idiom is 'at få buksevand', which describes a specific type of prank, often associated with schoolyards, where someone's pants are pulled up high on their backside, sometimes accompanied by a splash of water. This idiom illustrates the informal and often humorous associations Danes have with the word.
Culturally, 'bukser' refers to all types of leg coverings, from casual wear like 'cowboybukser' (jeans) to more formal 'habitbukser' (suit trousers). The ubiquity of the garment in Western fashion means that 'bukser' is a fundamental part of the Danish vocabulary related to clothing, used daily in a multitude of contexts. Understanding its plural-only nature and common idioms is key to grasping its full usage in Danish.
Beispiele
Jeg skal have nye bukser.
Daily lifeI need new pants.
Hun købte et par bukser i går.
ShoppingShe bought a pair of pants yesterday.
Mine bukser er for stramme.
Personal experienceMy pants are too tight.
Han tog sine arbejdsbukser på.
WorkHe put on his work pants.
De små børns bukser var fyldt med sand.
ChildrenThe little children's pants were full of sand.
Häufige Kollokationen
Wird oft verwechselt mit
similar sound
similar sound
Grammatikmuster
So verwendest du es
'Bukser' is a plural noun in Danish, meaning 'pants' or 'trousers'. Even when referring to a single pair of pants, the plural form is used. For example, 'et par bukser' means 'a pair of pants' or 'one pair of pants'. If you were to say 'mine bukser' (my pants), it implies one or more pairs. The word declines like other common plural nouns. It's generally straightforward to use. For instance, you might say 'Jeg køber nye bukser' (I am buying new pants) or 'Han har blå bukser på' (He is wearing blue pants). There are no tricky idiomatic expressions or unusual grammatical constructions associated with 'bukser' beyond its inherent plural nature. It's a fundamental word in Danish vocabulary for clothing.
Some common mistakes when using 'bukser' include incorrect gender agreement, as it is a common noun (en buks, bukser - no gender in plural but takes 'en' in singular). Another mistake is confusing 'bukser' (pants) with 'underbukser' (underwear) or 'shorts' (shorts), which are different articles of clothing. Additionally, Danish uses 'bukser' as a plural noun for a single pair of pants, similar to how English uses 'pants' or 'trousers', so saying 'en buks' for a single pant leg is grammatically correct but rarely used to refer to the full garment. Therefore, always use 'bukser' when referring to a pair of pants. Be careful with indefinite and definite forms: 'et par bukser' (a pair of pants) versus 'bukserne' (the pants). Finally, remember that while 'bukser' is plural, the verb conjugation will depend on whether you are referring to 'et par bukser' (a pair of pants - singular subject) or 'bukserne' (the pants - plural subject).
Tipps
Pronunciation tip
The 'u' in 'bukser' is pronounced like the 'oo' in 'moon', and the 's' is pronounced like the 's' in 'see'.
Grammar warning
'Bukser' is always plural in Danish, even when referring to a single pair of pants. You wouldn't say 'en bukse' (a pant).
Usage example
You could say 'Jeg skal købe nye bukser' which means 'I need to buy new pants'.
Wortherkunft
From Old Norse 'buxur', which likely has roots in Low German or Dutch. Related to English 'breeches'.
Kultureller Kontext
In Denmark, 'bukser' is the standard and most common term for pants or trousers. There isn't a significant cultural nuance that differentiates it from the general concept of pants in Western societies. Danes wear 'bukser' for various occasions, from everyday wear to more formal events, much like in many other countries. The fashion trends for 'bukser' in Denmark tend to align with broader European and global styles, emphasizing comfort, practicality, and contemporary aesthetics. You'll see a wide range of styles, including jeans, chinos, formal trousers, and more casual athletic pants, all referred to as 'bukser'. There are no specific historical or traditional cultural practices uniquely associated with 'bukser' in Denmark that would set them apart from their function as clothing items elsewhere.
Merkhilfe
Visualize a pair of 'bukser' (pants) with buckles (sounds like 'buk-') making them extra secure. Or, imagine a 'bus' (sounds similar to 'buk-') wearing 'bukser' that are too big.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenThe Danish word for 'pants' is 'bukser'. It's a plural noun, which is common for clothing items that cover two legs, much like 'trousers' in English. In Danish, when you refer to a single pair of pants, you still use 'bukser'. For example, 'et par bukser' means 'a pair of pants'.
The pronunciation of 'bukser' in Danish can be broken down. 'Buk' is pronounced similarly to 'book' in English, but with a slightly softer 'u' sound, almost like the 'oo' in 'good'. The 's' is like the 's' in 'see', and 'er' at the end is a soft, unstressed sound, similar to the 'uh' in 'sofa'. So, it's roughly 'book-suh'. The stress is on the first syllable.
Yes, 'bukser' is a versatile word. It can refer to various types of pants, such as jeans ('cowboybukser'), dress pants ('habitbukser'), or casual trousers. It's the general term for leg coverings from the waist down. You might also hear it in expressions like 'have bukserne på', which literally means 'to have the pants on' and metaphorically implies being in charge or wearing the pants in a relationship or situation.
Absolutely! One common idiom is 'have bukserne på', as mentioned before, meaning to be in charge. Another related phrase is 'at få buksevand', which literally translates to 'to get pants water'. This is an informal and somewhat old-fashioned term, especially among children, meaning to be given a 'wet willy' or to have water poured down your pants as a prank. It's not as common today but might still be heard.
Teste dich selbst
Jeg købte et par nye _____. (I bought a pair of new pants.)
Mine _____ er for lange. (My pants are too long.)
Hun har altid stilfulde _____. (She always wears stylish pants.)
Ergebnis: /3
Pronunciation tip
The 'u' in 'bukser' is pronounced like the 'oo' in 'moon', and the 's' is pronounced like the 's' in 'see'.
Grammar warning
'Bukser' is always plural in Danish, even when referring to a single pair of pants. You wouldn't say 'en bukse' (a pant).
Usage example
You could say 'Jeg skal købe nye bukser' which means 'I need to buy new pants'.
Beispiele
5 von 5Jeg skal have nye bukser.
I need new pants.
Hun købte et par bukser i går.
She bought a pair of pants yesterday.
Mine bukser er for stramme.
My pants are too tight.
Han tog sine arbejdsbukser på.
He put on his work pants.
De små børns bukser var fyldt med sand.
The little children's pants were full of sand.
