søge
søge en 30 segundos
- Søge means to search, seek, or apply.
- Use 'søge efter' for physical or digital searching.
- Use 'søge [job]' without a preposition for job applications.
- It is a weak verb: søger, søgte, har søgt.
The Danish verb søge is a versatile and essential word that primarily translates to 'to seek' or 'to search' in English. While its core meaning involves the act of looking for something, its application spans across physical, digital, and professional contexts. In everyday Danish life, you will encounter this word whether you are browsing the internet, applying for a career opportunity, or looking for lost items in your house. It is a word that bridges the gap between a simple physical action and a more abstract, intentional pursuit of a goal.
- Physical Searching
- When you are physically looking for something, you often use 'søge efter'. For instance, if you have lost your keys, you are searching for them. This implies a systematic or intentional effort to locate an object that is not immediately visible.
Politiet valgte at søge efter den forsvundne person i skoven hele natten.
- Digital Context
- In the modern era, 'søge' is the standard term for using a search engine like Google. When you type a query into a search bar, you are performing a 'søgning'. This is perhaps the most frequent way young Danes use the word today, referring to the act of retrieving information from the vast digital landscape.
- Professional Application
- One of the most critical uses of 'søge' is in the context of job hunting. In Danish, you 'søger et job' (search/apply for a job). Unlike English where 'search' and 'apply' are distinct, 'søge' covers the entire process of seeking employment and submitting an application.
Jeg vil gerne søge stillingen som lærer på jeres skole.
Furthermore, 'søge' is used in legal and official contexts, such as 'søge asyl' (seek asylum) or 'søge om tilladelse' (apply for permission). It carries a sense of formal request or pursuit. Whether you are seeking the truth, seeking a friend, or seeking a new house, 'søge' is your go-to verb for any endeavor that involves looking for something that is not yet in your possession.
Understanding the grammatical patterns of søge is vital for sounding natural in Danish. The word can be used transitively (with a direct object) or intransitively (often with the preposition 'efter').
- Søge + Direct Object
- This structure is most common when applying for something formal. You do not need a preposition when you are applying for a job, a position, or asylum. For example, 'Hun søger jobbet' (She is applying for the job).
Mange mennesker vælger at søge ly for regnen under det store træ.
- Søge efter + Noun
- When the action is about the physical or digital act of searching for something that is lost or unknown, we use the preposition 'efter'. This is equivalent to 'search for' in English. 'Jeg søger efter mine briller' (I am searching for my glasses).
- Søge om + Noun
- This pattern is used when making a formal application for a specific benefit or permission. 'Søge om visum' (Apply for a visa) or 'Søge om økonomisk støtte' (Apply for financial support).
Du skal huske at søge om tilladelse, før du bygger en ny garage.
In more poetic or literary Danish, 'søge' can also mean to move towards something. For example, 'fuglene søger mod syd' (the birds are heading south). This usage highlights the 'seeking' of a destination. When you master these three main patterns—direct object for jobs, 'efter' for searching, and 'om' for applications—you will be able to use 'søge' accurately in almost any situation.
The word søge is omnipresent in Danish society. From the digital screens of smartphones to the formal halls of government buildings, its presence is felt everywhere. Understanding the specific domains where 'søge' appears will help you recognize its nuances in real-time conversation and media.
- In the Workplace
- Danish work culture is highly organized, and the process of 'jobsøgning' (job searching) is a frequent topic of conversation. You will hear colleagues discuss 'at søge nye udfordringer' (seeking new challenges) or HR managers talking about 'at søge efter den rette kandidat' (searching for the right candidate).
Vi er i gang med at søge en ny projektleder til vores team.
- On the Internet
- Every Danish website has a 'søgefelt' (search field). When you are looking for a specific product on a webshop or a specific article on a news site, you use the 'søg' button. The word is the standard command for digital retrieval.
- News and Current Events
- In news broadcasts, you will often hear about people 'søger asyl' (seeking asylum) or 'søger hjælp' (seeking help) during crises. It is a word that conveys both human need and official process. It is also used when police are 'søger vidner' (seeking witnesses) to a crime.
Politiet søger nu vidner, der kan have set ulykken ske i går aftes.
In academic settings, students 'søger litteratur' (search for literature) for their theses. In social settings, friends might 'søge selskab' (seek company). The word is truly a linguistic workhorse, appearing in both the most mundane daily tasks and the most significant life events.
Even for intermediate learners, søge can be tricky due to its various prepositions and its similarity to other Danish verbs. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Danish sound much more authentic and professional.
- Confusing 'Søge' and 'Lede'
- This is the most frequent mistake. 'Lede efter' is very common for physical objects (like keys or a person). 'Søge' is often more formal, digital, or used for applications. While 'Jeg leder efter mine nøgler' is perfect, 'Jeg søger mine nøgler' sounds a bit too formal or like you are searching a database for them.
Forkert: Jeg søger efter mine sko. (Brug hellere: Jeg leder efter mine sko).
- Incorrect Preposition with Jobs
- English speakers often want to say 'søge for et job' (translating 'search for a job'). However, in Danish, you simply 'søger et job'. Adding 'for' changes the meaning entirely—'sørge for' means to take care of or ensure something.
- Confusion with 'Ansøge'
- 'Ansøge' is a more formal version of 'søge' used specifically for written applications (like for a university or a grant). While you can 'søge ind på en uddannelse', 'ansøge' is the more technical term for the paperwork. Using 'søge' in casual conversation is fine, but in a formal letter, 'ansøge' might be better.
Husk at søge om SU, når du starter på studiet.
Finally, remember that 'søge' implies the *process* of searching. If you actually find the object, you must switch to the verb 'finde'. You cannot say 'Jeg søgte mine nøgler' to mean 'I found my keys'. You 'søgte' (searched) and then you 'fandt' (found).
To expand your Danish vocabulary, it is helpful to know the synonyms and related terms for søge. Each of these words has a slightly different flavor or is used in specific contexts.
- Lede efter
- This is the most common synonym for 'searching' in a physical sense. If you are looking for your phone, your cat, or a street address, you 'leder efter' it. It feels more active and physical than 'søge'.
- Ansøge
- Specifically used for formal, written applications. You 'ansøger' for a scholarship, a building permit, or a university spot. It emphasizes the formal process of submitting documents.
Jeg skal ansøge om et nyt pas i morgen hos Borgerservice.
- Efterforske
- This means 'to investigate'. It is used by police, journalists, or scientists who are not just searching, but deeply examining facts to find the truth or a culprit.
- Kigge efter
- Meaning 'to look for', this is very informal. You might 'kigge efter' a good deal at the supermarket or 'kigge efter' your friend in a crowd. It is less intense than 'søge'.
Kan du kigge efter mælken i køleskabet?
Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the word that fits the intensity and formality of your situation. While 'søge' is a safe middle ground, using 'lede' for your keys or 'ansøge' for your visa will make you sound like a much more advanced speaker.
How Formal Is It?
Dato curioso
The word is cognate with 'suit' (as in a law suit), because to seek justice was to follow a legal path.
Guía de pronunciación
- Pronouncing the 'g' as a hard 'g' like in 'go'.
- Confusing the 'ø' sound with 'o' or 'e'.
- Making the 'e' at the end too sharp; it should be a neutral schwa sound.
Nivel de dificultad
Easy to recognize in texts and online.
Requires knowledge of the correct prepositions (efter vs om).
The 'ø' sound and soft 'g' can be challenging for English speakers.
Common enough that it becomes familiar quickly.
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Gramática que debes saber
Weak Verb Conjugation
søge, søger, søgte, har søgt
Prepositional Verbs
søge EFTER vs søge OM
Transitive vs Intransitive
Jeg søger job (trans) vs Jeg søger (intrans)
Passive -s form
Der søges en ny medarbejder.
Infinitive with 'at'
Det er svært at søge information.
Ejemplos por nivel
Jeg søger på Google.
I search on Google.
Present tense of søge.
Vi søger en hund.
We are looking for a dog.
Direct object usage.
Søger du hjælp?
Are you seeking help?
Question form.
Jeg søger en rød bil.
I am looking for a red car.
Simple adjective-noun object.
De søger en ven.
They are looking for a friend.
Plural subject.
Søg her!
Search here!
Imperative form.
Jeg søger efter min mor.
I am looking for my mother.
Use of 'efter'.
Han søger en bog.
He is looking for a book.
Third person singular.
Jeg vil gerne søge et job.
I would like to apply for a job.
Infinitive after 'vil gerne'.
Søger du efter dine nøgler?
Are you searching for your keys?
Common everyday question.
Vi søgte efter hotellet i to timer.
We searched for the hotel for two hours.
Past tense 'søgte'.
Hun søger en ny lejlighed i København.
She is looking for a new apartment in Copenhagen.
Present continuous meaning.
Har du søgt på internettet?
Have you searched on the internet?
Present perfect 'har søgt'.
Jeg søger efter information om toget.
I am searching for information about the train.
Søge efter + noun phrase.
De søger en barnepige til deres datter.
They are looking for a babysitter for their daughter.
Specific role search.
Hvad søger du efter lige nu?
What are you searching for right now?
Interrogative pronoun 'hvad'.
Jeg skal søge om et nyt pas.
I need to apply for a new passport.
Søge om (formal application).
Mange flygtninge søger asyl i Europa.
Many refugees seek asylum in Europe.
Political/formal context.
Vi søgte ly for det kraftige regnvejr.
We sought shelter from the heavy rain.
Idiomatic phrase 'søge ly'.
Han har søgt ind på universitetet.
He has applied to the university.
Søge ind på (apply to enter).
Virksomheden søger en medarbejder med erfaring.
The company is seeking an employee with experience.
Professional requirement.
Jeg søger efter en mening med livet.
I am searching for a meaning of life.
Abstract usage.
De søger om tilladelse til at bygge et hus.
They are applying for permission to build a house.
Legal application.
Husk at søge i god tid.
Remember to apply/search in good time.
Adverbial phrase 'i god tid'.
Der søges en kreativ sjæl til vores marketingteam.
A creative soul is sought for our marketing team.
Passive voice 'søges'.
Politiet søger vidner til et færdselsuheld.
The police are seeking witnesses to a traffic accident.
Formal police terminology.
Vi må søge at løse problemet hurtigst muligt.
We must seek to solve the problem as quickly as possible.
Søge at + infinitive (strive to).
Hun søger om optagelse på lægestudiet.
She is applying for admission to medical school.
Søge om optagelse.
Forskerne søger efter svar på klimakrisen.
The researchers are searching for answers to the climate crisis.
Scientific context.
Han søgte forgæves efter sine forsvundne dokumenter.
He searched in vain for his missing documents.
Adverb 'forgæves' (in vain).
Man bør altid søge professionel rådgivning.
One should always seek professional advice.
Formal recommendation.
Projektet søger at fremme kulturel forståelse.
The project seeks to promote cultural understanding.
Institutional goal setting.
Han søgte sin lykke i den store by.
He sought his fortune in the big city.
Literary expression.
Virksomheden vil søge erstatning for tabet.
The company will seek compensation for the loss.
Legal terminology.
Vi må søge ind til kernen af problemet.
We must seek to get to the core of the problem.
Metaphorical usage.
Hun søger oprejsning efter den uretfærdige behandling.
She seeks redress after the unfair treatment.
Abstract formal concept.
Partierne søger et bredt forlig om skattereformen.
The parties are seeking a broad agreement on the tax reform.
Political jargon.
Mange kunstnere søger inspiration i naturen.
Many artists seek inspiration in nature.
Creative context.
Han søgte tilflugt i kirken under krigen.
He sought refuge in the church during the war.
Historical/formal context.
Det er nødvendigt at søge konsensus i denne sag.
It is necessary to seek consensus in this matter.
Academic/Professional tone.
Forfatteren søger at dekonstruere de gængse magtstrukturer.
The author seeks to deconstruct prevailing power structures.
Highly academic 'søge at'.
Algoritmen er designet til at søge i enorme datamængder.
The algorithm is designed to search through enormous amounts of data.
Technical/Computing context.
Han søgte forgæves at genvinde sin tabte ære.
He sought in vain to regain his lost honor.
Archaic/Dramatic style.
Retten skal afgøre, om der er grundlag for at søge omstødelse.
The court must decide if there are grounds to seek annulment.
Specific legal term 'omstødelse'.
Filosoffen søger det absolutte punkt i menneskelig erkendelse.
The philosopher seeks the absolute point in human cognition.
Philosophical depth.
Man må søge at balancere mellem etik og profit.
One must seek to balance ethics and profit.
Complex moral discussion.
Hun søgte med lys og lygte efter sandheden.
She searched high and low for the truth.
Idiomatic expression.
Digteren søger at indfange øjeblikkets flygtighed.
The poet seeks to capture the transience of the moment.
Poetic/Abstract.
Sinónimos
Antónimos
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
Modismos y expresiones
— To search very thoroughly and everywhere.
Vi har søgt med lys og lygte efter en ny lejlighed.
informal/common— To try to find success or happiness, often by moving.
Han rejste til USA for at søge sin lykke.
literary— To search for something almost impossible to find.
At finde fejlen i koden er som at søge efter nålen i en høstak.
common— To find emotional or physical safety with someone.
Hun søgte ly hos sin søster under skilsmissen.
neutral— To look for something through every possible means.
Vi søger efter en løsning på alle kanaler.
professional— To look for new opportunities or experiences.
Efter ti år i firmaet søger hun mod nye horisonter.
poetic/formal— To try to delay something to gain an advantage.
Advokaten søgte at vinde tid ved at stille mange spørgsmål.
formal— To search in hidden or overlooked places.
Vi må søge i krogene for at finde sandheden.
neutral— To go to the original source of information.
Hvis du vil vide sandheden, må du søge til kilden.
academic— To strive for control or dominance.
De to firmaer søger herredømmet på markedet.
formalPatrones de oraciones
Jeg søger [noun].
Jeg søger en bog.
Jeg søger efter [noun].
Jeg søger efter min hund.
Jeg skal søge om [noun].
Jeg skal søge om visum.
Jeg søger et [job/stilling].
Jeg søger et job som kok.
Der søges [noun].
Der søges en bager.
Søge at [verb].
Vi søger at hjælpe alle.
Søge [abstract noun].
Han søger oprejsning.
Søge med lys og ly
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'Søge' as 'Seeking'. They both start with 'S' and have a similar vowel feel. If you are 'Søge-ing', you are 'Seeking'.
Asociación visual
Imagine a magnifying glass over a computer screen with the Google logo. That is 'at søge'.
Word Web
Desafío
Try to use 'søge' in three different ways today: once for searching online, once for looking for an object, and once for a career goal.
Origen de la palabra
From Old Norse 'sœkja', which is related to the English word 'seek' and German 'suchen'.
Significado original: To seek, to follow, or to go after.
GermanicContexto cultural
Be aware that 'søge asyl' is a politically sensitive topic in Denmark.
English speakers often confuse 'search' and 'apply'. In Danish, 'søge' covers both, which can be a relief once you get used to it!
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Job Hunting
- Jeg søger job.
- Hvornår søgte du?
- En god ansøgning.
- Søger I folk?
Digital Life
- Søg på nettet.
- Brug søgefeltet.
- Min søgehistorik.
- Søg efter billeder.
Daily Problems
- Jeg søger mine nøgler.
- Søg hjælp nu.
- Søg ly for regnen.
- Vi søger svar.
Official Matters
- Søge om visum.
- Søge om støtte.
- Søge asyl.
- Søge om tilladelse.
Academic
- Søge litteratur.
- Søge kilder.
- Søge ind på studiet.
- Søge viden.
Inicios de conversación
"Hvor mange job har du søgt i denne uge?"
"Hvad plejer du at søge efter på Google?"
"Har du nogensinde måttet søge ly for en storm?"
"Hvilket studie vil du gerne søge ind på?"
"Søger du tit efter inspiration på Pinterest?"
Temas para diario
Skriv om en gang du søgte efter noget og ikke kunne finde det.
Beskriv dit drømmejob og hvordan du vil søge det.
Hvad søger du mest efter i et venskab?
Reflektér over din søgning efter at lære det danske sprog.
Hvis du kunne søge om hvad som helst i verden, hvad ville det så være?
Summary
The Danish verb 'søge' is your primary word for searching (digital and physical) and applying for jobs. Remember: 'søge efter' for objects, but 'søge et job' for applications.
- Søge means to search, seek, or apply.
- Use 'søge efter' for physical or digital searching.
- Use 'søge [job]' without a preposition for job applications.
- It is a weak verb: søger, søgte, har søgt.
Contenido relacionado
Frases relacionadas
Más palabras de general
afbryde
B1To stop something from continuing
afbøje
B2To deflect or turn aside.
afgørende
B1Decisivo o crucial. Se usa para algo que determina el resultado final de una situación.
afholde
B2Organizar o llevar a cabo un evento formal como una reunión o elección.
afhængig
B1Determined or decided by something else
afkorte
B2To shorten or reduce in length.
afmærke
B2Marcar o delimitar una posición o ruta. 'Es necesario marcar la zona de obras para evitar accidentes.'
afrunde
B2To conclude or make complete.
afslutte
B1Finalizar o concluir una tarea o proceso de forma definitiva.
afsløre
B2Revelar o desvelar algo que estaba oculto. 'Ella reveló la verdad' y 'El monumento fue desvelado ante el público.'