At the A1 level, you should recognize 'politiker' as a common job title. You will learn it alongside other professions like 'læge' (doctor) or 'lærer' (teacher). At this stage, you focus on simple sentences like 'Han er politiker' (He is a politician) or 'Jeg ser en politiker' (I see a politician). You don't need to worry about complex political systems, just that this person works with laws and government. You should be able to identify the word in a simple list of jobs and understand that it refers to a person. Learning the basic plural 'politikere' is also helpful even at this early stage. You might see the word in a basic textbook description of a city or a country's leadership.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'politiker' in more descriptive contexts. You can talk about what a politician does using simple verbs: 'En politiker taler meget' (A politician talks a lot) or 'Vi skal vælge en ny politiker' (We must choose a new politician). You start to understand the difference between the indefinite 'en politiker' and the definite 'politikeren'. You might also encounter the word in news headlines or simple articles about local elections. At this level, you should be able to ask basic questions like 'Hvem er din favoritpolitiker?' (Who is your favorite politician?) and understand simple answers. You are also introduced to basic compound words like 'lokalpolitiker'.
At the B1 level, you can participate in discussions involving politicians. You can express opinions about their actions using subordinating conjunctions: 'Jeg synes, at politikeren har ret' (I think the politician is right) or 'Selvom han er politiker, er han meget ærlig' (Even though he is a politician, he is very honest). You understand more specific terms like 'folketingsmedlem' and 'regering'. You can follow a standard news report about a politician's visit or a new law. Your vocabulary expands to include related concepts like 'valgkamp' (election campaign) and 'mærkesager' (key issues). You can describe a politician's personality or political stance using a wider range of adjectives.
At the B2 level, you are comfortable with the nuances of how 'politiker' is used in media and formal documents. You can understand the difference between a 'levebrødspolitiker' and a 'statsmand'. You can follow complex debates on television and understand the arguments made by various 'politikere'. You use the word in formal writing, such as an essay about democracy or social issues. You are aware of the cultural context in Denmark, such as the 'konsensusdemokrati' and how it influences a politician's behavior. You can use idiomatic expressions related to politics and understand the subtle connotations of different synonyms. You can also handle the word in passive voice and complex relative clauses.
At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated understanding of the word 'politiker' and its role in Danish society. You can analyze the rhetoric used by a 'toppolitiker' and discuss the implications of their policies in depth. You understand the historical development of the role of the politician in Denmark, from the 'systemskifte' in 1901 to the present day. You can read academic papers in political science that use the term in a technical sense. You are able to use the word with precision in high-level professional or academic environments. You recognize the subtle use of irony or sarcasm when the word is used in political commentary or satire, such as in the show 'Borgen'.
At the C2 level, your command of the word 'politiker' is equivalent to that of a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate the finest nuances of the word in literature, high-level journalism, and philosophical discourse. You can write persuasive articles or give speeches where you discuss the 'politikerens etiske ansvar' (the politician's ethical responsibility). You understand the etymological roots and how the word relates to 'polis' and 'politik'. You can navigate the most complex linguistic structures involving the word and its derivatives without any hesitation. You are also fully aware of the regional variations in how politicians are perceived and discussed across the Danish-speaking world.

politiker در ۳۰ ثانیه

  • A person professionally involved in government and law-making.
  • Can refer to local, regional, or national elected officials in Denmark.
  • Follows common gender rules (en politiker) and has specific plural forms.
  • Central to Danish 'velfærdsstat' and 'konsensusdemokrati' discussions.

The Danish word politiker refers to a person who is professionally involved in politics, typically as an elected official or a candidate for office. In the context of the Danish 'velfærdsstat' (welfare state), a politiker is often viewed as a public servant tasked with managing the collective resources of the community. Unlike in some other cultures where the term might carry a heavy weight of cynicism, in Denmark, there is a relatively high level of 'tillid' (trust) between the citizenry and the politiker, although this varies depending on the current political climate.

The National Level
At the national level, a politiker serves in 'Folketinget', the Danish Parliament. These individuals are responsible for creating laws that affect the entire kingdom, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. You will hear them discussed in news segments like 'TV2 News' or 'DR Nyheder' daily.
The Local Level
A 'lokalpolitiker' works in the 'kommune' (municipality) or 'region'. These politicians deal with immediate issues like local schools, road maintenance, and regional hospitals. They are often more accessible to the average person.
The Professional Politician
The term 'levebrødspolitiker' is a specific, somewhat derogatory term used to describe a politiker who has never had a job outside of politics, suggesting they are out of touch with 'virkeligheden' (reality).

Mange mener, at en dygtig politiker skal kunne lytte til folket, før der tages store beslutninger.

Translation: Many believe that a skilled politician must be able to listen to the people before big decisions are made.

In Danish discourse, you will frequently encounter the word in debates regarding 'skattelettelser' (tax cuts) or 'velfærd' (welfare). A politiker is expected to participate in 'debatter' and 'samråd'. The Danish political system is characterized by 'konsensusdemokrati', meaning a politiker must be very good at 'forhandling' (negotiation) with other parties. This makes the role of a politiker in Denmark quite different from those in winner-take-all systems.

Den unge politiker vandt mange stemmer ved at fokusere på klimaforandringer.

Hver eneste politiker i salen var tavs under statsministerens tale.

Vi har brug for en politiker, der tør tage upopulære beslutninger for landets skyld.

Furthermore, the word is used in compound nouns like 'toppolitiker' (top politician) or 'partipolitiker' (party politician). When discussing international relations, you might refer to a 'udenrigspolitiker' (foreign policy politician). The versatility of the word allows it to fit into various levels of formality, from casual coffee-table talk about 'de dumme politikere' (those stupid politicians) to academic political science discussions about 'politikerens rolle i magtens centrum' (the politician's role in the center of power).

Using the word politiker correctly requires understanding its declension and its position in the sentence. As a noun, it follows standard Danish syntax rules. It can act as a subject, an object, or part of a prepositional phrase. Because it refers to a profession, in Danish, we often omit the indefinite article 'en' when stating someone's job directly after the verb 'at være' (to be), e.g., 'Han er politiker' (He is a politician).

Singular vs. Plural
'En politiker' (a politician) becomes 'politikere' (politicians) in the indefinite plural. Note the extra '-e' at the end. 'Politikeren' (the politician) becomes 'politikerne' (the politicians) in the definite plural.
Genitive Case
To show possession, simply add an 's': 'Politikerens tale' (The politician's speech) or 'Politikernes ansvar' (The politicians' responsibility).

Som politiker skal man være forberedt på hård kritik fra medierne.

Translation: As a politician, one must be prepared for harsh criticism from the media.

When describing a politician, adjectives are placed before the noun and must agree in gender and number. For example: 'En dygtig politiker' (A skilled politician), 'Den dygtige politiker' (The skilled politician), or 'Dygtige politikere' (Skilled politicians). You will often see the word paired with verbs like 'at vælge' (to elect), 'at stemme på' (to vote for), and 'at kritisere' (to criticize).

Hvilken politiker har haft den største indflydelse på dansk historie?

In more complex sentences, 'politiker' often appears in relative clauses. For instance: 'Den politiker, som jeg mødte i går, var meget venlig' (The politician whom I met yesterday was very friendly). It is also common in passive constructions: 'Politikeren blev interviewet af en journalist' (The politician was interviewed by a journalist). Understanding these patterns is key to reaching B1 or B2 proficiency in Danish.

The word politiker is ubiquitous in Danish life, reflecting the nation's high engagement with civic duties. You will hear it most frequently in news broadcasts, podcasts, and daily conversations about the state of the country. Denmark has a tradition of 'højskole' and public debate, where the actions of a politiker are constantly scrutinized and discussed in a polite but firm manner.

Television and Radio
In programs like 'Debatten' on DR2, you will see several politikere arguing over current events. The moderators often introduce them by their title and party, such as 'Socialdemokratisk politiker' or 'Venstre-politiker'.
The Dinner Table
Danes are not shy about discussing politics during 'frokost' (lunch) or 'aftensmad' (dinner). You might hear someone say, 'Jeg stoler ikke på den politiker' (I don't trust that politician).

I nyhederne talte en politiker om de nye restriktioner.

Translation: In the news, a politician spoke about the new restrictions.

During election periods ('valgkamp'), the word is everywhere. Posters with the faces of various politikere line the streets. You will hear phrases like 'at føre valgkamp' (to campaign) and 'at møde vælgerne' (to meet the voters). Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook are also hubs where a politiker will share their 'mærkesager' (key issues) and engage with the public.

Mange politikere bruger sociale medier til at kommunikere direkte med borgerne.

In schools and universities, students learn about 'politikerens' role in the 'magtens tredeling' (tripartite division of power). If you visit 'Folkemødet' on Bornholm, you will literally walk among hundreds of politikere who are there to debate and mingle with the public in an informal setting. This proximity is a hallmark of Danish political culture.

Learning to use politiker involves avoiding a few common pitfalls that English speakers often encounter. One of the most frequent errors relates to the use of articles when talking about professions.

The Article Omission
In English, we say 'He is A politician.' In Danish, you should say 'Han er politiker.' Adding the 'en' ('Han er en politiker') is grammatically possible but often implies you are describing him as a type of politician (e.g., 'Han er en god politiker') rather than just stating his job.
Pluralization Confusion
Don't forget the 'e' in 'politikere'. Some learners mistakenly say 'politikers' following English rules. In Danish, the '-s' is only for the genitive (possession).

Fejl: Han er en politiker. Korrekt: Han er politiker.

Common mistake: Including the article when stating a profession.

Another mistake is confusing politiker (the person) with politik (the field or the policy). You cannot say 'Jeg kan lide denne politiker' if you mean 'I like this policy'. For the policy, you must use 'politik' or 'målsætning'. Conversely, you can't say 'Regeringen har en ny politiker' if you mean 'The government has a new policy'.

Vi diskuterer politik (the subject), ikke en bestemt politiker (the person).

Lastly, be careful with the word 'politisk'. This is the adjective 'political'. You might hear 'en politisk beslutning' (a political decision). Learners sometimes use 'politiker' as an adjective, which is incorrect. You cannot say 'en politiker beslutning'. Always ensure you are using the noun form when referring to the individual.

While politiker is the standard term, Danish offers several synonyms and related words that provide more nuance depending on the context. Understanding these can help you sound more like a native speaker.

Folketingsmedlem (MF)
This is a more formal and specific term for a politiker who has been elected to the national parliament. In the media, you will often see the abbreviation 'MF' after their name (e.g., Mette Frederiksen, MF).
Statsmand
A 'statsmand' (statesman) is a politiker who is regarded as being exceptionally wise, experienced, and respected, often on the international stage. This is a very positive, high-status term.
Beslutningstager
Translating to 'decision-maker', this term is often used in business or administrative contexts to refer to politicians and high-ranking officials who have the power to change things.

Er han bare en almindelig politiker, eller er han en sand statsmand?

Comparison between a regular politician and a statesman.

If you are looking for more specific roles, consider words like 'minister' (minister), 'borgmester' (mayor), or 'rådmand' (alderman). Each of these is a type of politiker. In a more cynical context, you might hear the word 'pamper', which refers to a politiker or official who is perceived as being more interested in their own benefits and power than in serving the public.

Mange folketingsmedlemmer deltager i debatten i aften.

Finally, the word 'valgbar' (eligible for election) is an adjective related to the ability of a person to become a politiker. Understanding these distinctions will significantly broaden your political vocabulary in Danish and allow you to navigate news articles with much greater ease.

نکته جالب

In the 18th century, the word was sometimes used more broadly to describe anyone who was 'shrewd' or 'cunning' in social affairs, not just government officials.

راهنمای تلفظ

UK /pʰoliˈtˢikɐ/
US /pʰoliˈtˢikɐ/
Second syllable: po-LI-ti-ker.
هم‌قافیه با
Kritiker (critic) Musikere (musicians - plural) Tekniker (technician) Praktiker (practitioner) Mystiker (mystic) Statistiker (statistician) Informatiker (informatician) Klassiker (classic)
خطاهای رایج
  • Pronouncing it like the English 'politician'.
  • Putting the stress on the first syllable.
  • Forgetting the soft 'd' sound if it were present (though it isn't here, learners often over-apply it).
  • Pronouncing the final 'r' too harshly; it should be a vocalic 'ah'.
  • Spelling it with a 'c'.

مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

1

Han er politiker.

He is a politician.

Notice the absence of 'en' when stating a profession.

2

Er du politiker?

Are you a politician?

A simple question using the verb 'at være'.

3

En politiker arbejder meget.

A politician works a lot.

Indefinite singular noun used as a subject.

4

Jeg ser en politiker på TV.

I see a politician on TV.

Direct object in a simple sentence.

5

Min far er ikke politiker.

My father is not a politician.

Negative sentence using 'ikke'.

6

Hvor bor en politiker?

Where does a politician live?

Question word 'hvor' followed by the verb.

7

Her er en politiker.

Here is a politician.

Using 'her' to introduce a subject.

8

Hun vil være politiker.

She wants to be a politician.

Using the modal verb 'vil' (wants to).

1

Politikeren taler til folket.

The politician speaks to the people.

Definite singular noun 'politikeren'.

2

Der er mange politikere i Danmark.

There are many politicians in Denmark.

Indefinite plural 'politikere'.

3

Jeg kan godt lide denne politiker.

I like this politician.

Demonstrative pronoun 'denne' followed by the noun.

4

Politikeren har en blå bil.

The politician has a blue car.

Possessive sentence with an adjective.

5

Vi læser om en kendt politiker.

We are reading about a famous politician.

Preposition 'om' followed by an adjective and noun.

6

Politikerne skal tage en beslutning.

The politicians must make a decision.

Definite plural 'politikerne'.

7

Er politikeren i København i dag?

Is the politician in Copenhagen today?

Question about location.

8

En ny politiker starter i morgen.

A new politician starts tomorrow.

Adjective 'ny' modifying the noun.

1

Jeg stoler på den politiker, som taler sandheden.

I trust the politician who speaks the truth.

Relative clause starting with 'som'.

2

Politikeren lovede at sænke skatterne.

The politician promised to lower taxes.

Past tense verb 'lovede' followed by an infinitive phrase.

3

Hvis jeg var politiker, ville jeg ændre skolen.

If I were a politician, I would change the school.

Conditional sentence using 'hvis' and 'ville'.

4

Politikeren blev valgt med et stort flertal.

The politician was elected with a large majority.

Passive voice construction with 'blev'.

5

Det er vigtigt at lytte til hver eneste politiker.

It is important to listen to every single politician.

Using 'hver eneste' for emphasis.

6

Politikeren svarede ikke på spørgsmålet.

The politician did not answer the question.

Negative past tense.

7

Mange mener, at politikeren er for gammel.

Many think that the politician is too old.

Reported thought using 'mener, at'.

8

Hun er den mest populære politiker i år.

She is the most popular politician this year.

Superlative adjective 'mest populære'.

1

Politikeren formåede at skabe konsensus i partiet.

The politician managed to create consensus in the party.

Using 'formåede at' for achieving something difficult.

2

Der er stor forskel på en lokalpolitiker og en toppolitiker.

There is a big difference between a local politician and a top politician.

Comparison using compound nouns.

3

Politikeren blev kritiseret for sin manglende handling.

The politician was criticized for his lack of action.

Passive voice with a prepositional cause.

4

Selvom politikeren er ung, har han stor erfaring.

Even though the politician is young, he has great experience.

Concessive clause using 'selvom'.

5

Politikeren fremhævede behovet for grøn omstilling.

The politician highlighted the need for a green transition.

Formal verb 'fremhævede'.

6

Intet tyder på, at politikeren vil trække sig tilbage.

Nothing suggests that the politician will retire.

Complex introductory phrase 'Intet tyder på'.

7

Politikeren blev fanget i en løgn af journalisten.

The politician was caught in a lie by the journalist.

Passive construction with 'blev fanget'.

8

Som politiker skal man kunne tåle mosten.

As a politician, one must be able to stand the heat (idiom).

Using the idiom 'at kunne tåle mosten'.

1

Politikerens retorik var præget af populistiske undertoner.

The politician's rhetoric was characterized by populist undertones.

Genitive case and advanced vocabulary like 'præget af'.

2

Det er en udfordring for enhver politiker at balancere idealisme og realisme.

It is a challenge for any politician to balance idealism and realism.

Infinitive phrase acting as a subject complement.

3

Politikeren navigerede dygtigt gennem det parlamentariske landskab.

The politician skillfully navigated through the parliamentary landscape.

Metaphorical use of 'navigerede'.

4

Kritikere hævder, at politikeren har mistet forbindelsen til vælgerne.

Critics claim that the politician has lost touch with the voters.

Reported speech with 'hævder, at'.

5

Politikeren blev ekskluderet fra partiet efter skandalen.

The politician was expelled from the party after the scandal.

Formal verb 'ekskluderet'.

6

En sand politiker bør altid sætte landets interesser over egne.

A true politician should always put the country's interests above their own.

Using 'bør' for moral obligation.

7

Politikeren udviste stor integritet under hele forløbet.

The politician showed great integrity throughout the process.

High-level noun 'integritet'.

8

Der stilles skarpt på politikerens personlige økonomi.

The politician's personal finances are being scrutinized.

Idiomatic phrase 'stilles skarpt på'.

1

Politikerens diskurs afspejler en dyb forankring i den nordiske model.

The politician's discourse reflects a deep rooting in the Nordic model.

Academic vocabulary: 'diskurs', 'afspejler', 'forankring'.

2

Man kan problematisere politikerens tendens til at ty til teknokratiske løsninger.

One can problematize the politician's tendency to resort to technocratic solutions.

Using 'problematisere' as a verb.

3

Politikeren formidlede sit budskab med en sjælden grad af veltalenhed.

The politician conveyed their message with a rare degree of eloquence.

Advanced noun 'veltalenhed'.

4

Politikerens ageren i denne sag har vakt international opsigt.

The politician's actions in this case have attracted international attention.

Formal noun 'ageren'.

5

Det er en politiker, der formår at transcendere partipolitiske skel.

It is a politician who manages to transcend party political divides.

Using the verb 'transcendere'.

6

Politikeren blev indbegrebet af den politiske apati i befolkningen.

The politician became the epitome of the political apathy in the population.

Using 'indbegrebet af' (the epitome of).

7

Politikerens eftermæle vil blive defineret af denne historiske reform.

The politician's legacy will be defined by this historic reform.

Future passive construction with 'vil blive'.

8

Man må ikke undervurdere en politiker med en klar vision og folkelig opbakning.

One must not underestimate a politician with a clear vision and popular support.

Complex sentence with modal 'må ikke'.

ترکیب‌های رایج

en erfaren politiker
en lokal politiker
en toppolitiker
at være politiker
en korrupt politiker
politikernes ansvar
en ung politiker
en indflydelsesrig politiker
en karrierepolitiker
at kritisere politikere

عبارات رایج

De kære politikere

— A slightly ironic way of referring to politicians.

Hvad har de kære politikere nu fundet på?

Politikerens ord

— Refers to the promises or statements made by a politician.

Man kan ikke altid stole på en politikers ord.

At gå ind i politik

— To become a politician or start a political career.

Hun besluttede at gå ind i politik efter studiet.

En politiker af den gamle skole

— An old-school politician with traditional values.

Han er en politiker af den gamle skole.

Politisk korrekt

— Being politically correct (adjective phrase).

Han prøver altid at være politisk korrekt.

Bag lukkede døre

— Where politicians often make deals (behind closed doors).

Politikerne mødtes bag lukkede døre.

At skifte side

— When a politician changes their political party.

Politikeren valgte at skifte side midt i perioden.

En varm kartoffel

— A difficult issue that politicians avoid.

Skatteforhandlinger er altid en varm kartoffel for en politiker.

At fiske efter stemmer

— When a politician tries to gain votes, often in a shallow way.

Han fisker bare efter stemmer med det forslag.

At tale udenom

— When a politician avoids answering a question directly.

Politikeren var god til at tale udenom i interviewet.

اصطلاحات و عبارات

"At have mange kasketter på"

— When a politician has many different roles or interests.

Som politiker og erhvervsmand har han mange kasketter på.

Informal
"At stikke fingeren i jorden"

— When a politician tries to sense the public mood before acting.

Politikeren stak fingeren i jorden før udmeldingen.

Neutral
"At vaske hænder"

— When a politician tries to avoid responsibility for a failure.

Nu prøver politikeren at vaske hænder i skandalen.

Neutral
"At tale for døve ører"

— When a politician's message is ignored by the public or colleagues.

Han følte, at han som politiker talte for døve ører.

Neutral
"At male fanden på væggen"

— When a politician exaggerates a danger to scare people.

Politikeren malede fanden på væggen angående økonomien.

Informal
"At feje noget ind under gulvtæppet"

— When a politician tries to hide a problem.

Sagen blev fejet ind under gulvtæppet af politikerne.

Neutral
"At være i lommen på nogen"

— When a politician is controlled by a donor or interest group.

Folk siger, at han er i lommen på lobbyisterne.

Informal
"At kaste håndklædet i ringen"

— When a politician gives up and resigns.

Efter nederlaget kastede politikeren håndklædet i ringen.

Neutral
"At ride på en bølge"

— When a politician benefits from a sudden trend or popularity.

Hun rider på en bølge af folkelig succes.

Neutral
"At tale med to tunger"

— When a politician says different things to different people (hypocrisy).

Vælgerne føler, at politikeren taler med to tunger.

Neutral

خانواده کلمه

اسم‌ها

Politik (politics/policy)
Politikere (politicians)
Politikerskab (politicianship - rare)
Lokalpolitiker (local politician)
Toppolitiker (top politician)

فعل‌ها

At politisere (to politicize)

صفت‌ها

Politisk (political)
Upolitisk (unpolitical)
Partipolitisk (party-political)

مرتبط

Folketinget
Regering
Parti
Valg
Demokrati

حفظ کنید

روش یادسپاری

Think of a 'PO-LIce officer' of 'TI-ckets' and 'KER-nels' of truth. A PO-LI-TI-KER.

ریشه کلمه

Derived from the Greek word 'politikos', meaning 'of, for, or relating to citizens'. It entered Danish via Latin 'politicus' and German 'Politiker'.

معنای اصلی: A person involved in the affairs of the city-state (polis).

Indo-European (Greek/Latin roots).
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