Signification
to be in a difficult spot.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is often used in the context of 'Janteloven' (The Law of Jante). If someone tries to be too big or successful and fails, others might say they 'bragte sig selv i uføre' (brought themselves into a mess), implying they should have stayed humble. Danish journalists love this word. It appears in almost every political analysis of a struggling party. It sounds objective yet serious. In the 1800s, being 'i uføre' could mean death for livestock if a wagon got stuck in a remote area. This high-stakes history gives the word its modern weight. In Danish IT departments, 'uføre' is sometimes used ironically to describe a 'spaghetti code' situation where no one knows how to fix the bugs.
Use with Adjectives
Always try to add an adjective like 'økonomisk', 'politisk', or 'personligt' to sound more like a native speaker.
Not for small things
Don't use it if you just lost your keys. It's for when you lose your keys, your phone, and your car is towed all at once.
Signification
to be in a difficult spot.
Use with Adjectives
Always try to add an adjective like 'økonomisk', 'politisk', or 'personligt' to sound more like a native speaker.
Not for small things
Don't use it if you just lost your keys. It's for when you lose your keys, your phone, and your car is towed all at once.
The 'Sinking' Feeling
Remember the mud metaphor. If the situation feels like you are sinking, 'uføre' is the right word.
Teste-toi
Udfyld tomrummet med den rigtige form af udtrykket.
Efter de mange løgne er han nu havnet i et alvorligt ________.
'Uføre' is the correct noun to describe a metaphorical mess.
Hvilken sætning er mest naturlig i en dansk avis?
Avisoverskrift om økonomien:
This is the standard formal way to describe a national economic crisis.
Match verbet med den rigtige betydning i forhold til 'uføre'.
Match verberne:
These are the four primary ways to use the noun 'uføre' with verbs.
Hvad ville den næste person sige?
A: 'Jeg har glemt min kones fødselsdag, og jeg har ingen penge til en gave.' B: '________'
This confirms the person is in a difficult spot.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Trouble Levels in Danish
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesEfter de mange løgne er han nu havnet i et alvorligt ________.
'Uføre' is the correct noun to describe a metaphorical mess.
Avisoverskrift om økonomien:
This is the standard formal way to describe a national economic crisis.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the four primary ways to use the noun 'uføre' with verbs.
A: 'Jeg har glemt min kones fødselsdag, og jeg har ingen penge til en gave.' B: '________'
This confirms the person is in a difficult spot.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is almost exclusively used in the phrase 'i uføre'. You rarely hear someone just say 'Se det uføre!'
Not usually. For health, we use 'skrantende' or 'dårligt helbred'. 'Uføre' is for situations and logistics.
There isn't one direct word, but 'at have styr på tingene' (to have control over things) is the functional opposite.
It's neutral-formal. It's perfect for work, news, and serious personal talks.
Yes, but usually only if you have an adjective: 'et alvorligt uføre'. Otherwise, just say 'i uføre'.
Yes! It literally means 'not-leading' or a path that doesn't lead anywhere.
No. A person is 'i uføre'. You cannot call a person 'an uføre'.
Yes, Norwegian uses 'uføre' similarly. Swedish uses 'oföre' but it's much less common; they prefer 'knipa'.
You say 'Jeg kom ud af uføret'. Note the definite ending '-et'.
Yes, if the bug has caused a massive, complicated problem for the whole system.
Expressions liées
at være i knibe
similarto be in a pinch
at være på spanden
synonymto be broke/desperate
at rode sig ud i noget
builds onto mess oneself into something
at være på herrens mark
similarto be lost/without help
at komme på ret køl
contrastto get back on an even keel
