When you refuse to accept or agree to something, the Danish word is afvise.
You might use afvise if someone offers you something you don't want, or asks you to do something you can't or won't do.
It's about saying 'no' or turning something down.
For example, if someone offers you a slice of cake and you don't want it, you could say 'Jeg må afvise' (I have to refuse).
It's a useful word for many everyday situations.
When you refuse to accept or agree to something, the Danish word to use is afvise. Imagine someone offers you a piece of cake, but you don't want it. You would afvise the cake. It can also be used for ideas or suggestions. If you don't agree with a plan, you can afvise the plan. It's a useful word for saying "no" in a more formal or definite way.
When using "afvise" at a C1 level, you're looking to express a more nuanced or formal rejection. It's often used when an idea, proposal, or request is deemed unacceptable or incorrect, especially after consideration. Consider situations where a board might afvise a proposal, or a scientist might afvise a hypothesis based on new evidence. This implies a deliberate and reasoned decision, rather than a simple 'no'. It can also carry a connotation of dismissing something as invalid.
§ Understanding 'afvise' (to refuse/reject)
The Danish verb 'afvise' is quite versatile and corresponds to several English verbs like 'to refuse', 'to reject', 'to dismiss', or even 'to turn down'. It generally implies not accepting something, whether it's an offer, a person, an idea, or a claim. It's a compound verb, combining 'af-' (off, away) and 'vise' (to show), literally 'to show away'.
- DEFINITION
- to refuse to accept or agree to something
§ Basic Conjugation
'Afvise' is a regular verb in Danish, belonging to the -e conjugation group. This means its past tense and past participle forms are straightforward.
- Infinitive: at afvise (to refuse)
- Present Tense: afviser (refuses/is refusing)
- Past Tense: afviste (refused)
- Past Participle: afvist (refused)
§ 'Afvise' + Direct Object
The most common way to use 'afvise' is with a direct object. This object is what is being refused or rejected.
Han ville afvise tilbuddet.
- HINT
- He wanted to refuse the offer.
De afviser alle anklager.
- HINT
- They reject all accusations.
§ 'Afvise' + Prepositions
While 'afvise' often takes a direct object without a preposition, sometimes it can be followed by a preposition to add nuance, though this is less common than with some other verbs. Generally, the direct object construction is preferred.
§ Common Uses & Contexts
Here are some common situations where 'afvise' is used:
- Refusing an offer/request: When you say 'no' to something proposed to you.
- HINT
- I had to refuse their invitation due to lack of time.
- Rejecting a person: This can be in a romantic context or simply not allowing someone entry or access.
- HINT
- The doorman rejected him at the entrance.
- Dismissing an idea/argument: When you don't consider something valid or important.
- HINT
- She dismissed his argument as nonsense.
- Rejecting a claim/complaint: When you state that something is untrue or unfounded.
- HINT
- The company rejected the complaint.
Jeg måtte afvise deres invitation på grund af tidsmangel.
Dørmanden afviste ham ved indgangen.
Hun afviste hans argument som nonsens.
Virksomheden afviste klagen.
§ What 'afvise' means
- Danish Word
- afvise (verb)
- CEFR Level
- B2
- Definition
- to refuse to accept or agree to something; to reject; to dismiss
Alright, let's talk about the Danish verb 'afvise'. You'll hear this word quite a bit, especially when people are talking about not accepting something or someone. It's a useful word to know because it covers a lot of ground, from saying 'no' to a proposal to turning someone down romantically. It’s a B2 word, so it's common enough that you'll definitely encounter it in daily conversation, news, and more formal settings. Let's break down where you'd actually hear and use this word.
§ At work or school
In professional or academic environments, 'afvise' is often used when a proposal, idea, or application isn't accepted. Think about project submissions, job applications, or even an argument in a debate. It's a polite but firm way to state that something has been turned down.
Virksomheden valgte at afvise hans ansøgning.
Here, 'virksomheden' is 'the company', 'valgte at' means 'chose to', 'hans ansøgning' means 'his application'. So, 'The company chose to reject his application.'
Professoren måtte afvise studentens argumenter som uholdbare.
'Professoren' is 'the professor', 'måtte' is 'had to', 'studentens argumenter' is 'the student's arguments', 'som uholdbare' means 'as untenable/unsustainable'. So, 'The professor had to dismiss the student's arguments as untenable.'
§ In the news
When you're reading or watching Danish news, 'afvise' pops up a lot in political and diplomatic contexts. Governments might 'afvise' demands, proposals, or accusations. It signals a clear stance against something.
Regeringen har besluttet at afvise forslaget om nye skatter.
'Regeringen' is 'the government', 'har besluttet at' means 'has decided to', 'forslaget om nye skatter' is 'the proposal for new taxes'. So, 'The government has decided to reject the proposal for new taxes.'
Udenrigsministeren ville ikke afvise en mulig diplomatisk løsning.
'Udenrigsministeren' is 'the foreign minister', 'ville ikke' means 'would not', 'en mulig diplomatisk løsning' is 'a possible diplomatic solution'. So, 'The foreign minister would not rule out a possible diplomatic solution.' Here, 'afvise' is used in a slightly different nuance, meaning 'to rule out'.
§ In social situations
Beyond formal settings, 'afvise' is also very common in everyday social interactions. You might 'afvise' an invitation, a compliment, or even someone's romantic advances.
Hun måtte afvise hans invitation til middag.
'Hun måtte' is 'she had to', 'hans invitation til middag' is 'his invitation to dinner'. So, 'She had to refuse his invitation to dinner.'
Han følte sig afvist, da hun ikke besvarede hans opkald.
'Han følte sig' is 'he felt', 'da hun ikke besvarede hans opkald' means 'when she didn't answer his call'. So, 'He felt rejected when she didn't answer his call.'
§ Key takeaways for 'afvise'
- 'Afvise' means to refuse to accept, reject, or dismiss.
- It's used in formal contexts like work, school, and news (rejecting proposals, arguments, demands).
- It's also used in informal social situations (refusing invitations, feeling rejected).
- The context usually makes it clear what exactly is being refused or rejected.
Keep an ear out for 'afvise' in your Danish listening practice. You'll quickly get a feel for how broadly it's used to convey the idea of not accepting something or someone. Practicing with these examples will help you integrate it into your own vocabulary.
How Formal Is It?
"Vi må desværre afslå anmodningen om yderligere finansiering på nuværende tidspunkt. (We must, unfortunately, decline the request for additional funding at the present time.)"
"Han valgte at afvise tilbuddet, da det ikke stemte overens med hans forventninger. (He chose to reject the offer, as it did not align with his expectations.)"
"Jeg er nødt til at sige nej til festen i aften, jeg er alt for træt. (I have to say no to the party tonight, I'm far too tired.)"
"Barnet ville ikke have grøntsagerne og skubbede tallerkenen væk. (The child didn't want the vegetables and pushed the plate away.)"
"De lukkede helt ned for forslaget, før vi overhovedet fik talt færdigt. (They completely shut down the proposal before we even finished talking.)"
Le savais-tu ?
The 'af-' prefix in Danish often means 'off' or 'from', similar to the English 'off' or 'de-' in words like 'decline'.
Exemples par niveau
Han valgte at afvise tilbuddet.
He chose to refuse the offer.
Here 'afvise' takes a direct object 'tilbuddet' (the offer).
Hun afviste blankt enhver anklage.
She flatly rejected every accusation.
'blankt' means 'flatly' or 'point-blank', emphasizing the refusal.
Vi måtte afvise forslaget på grund af budgettet.
We had to reject the proposal due to the budget.
'måtte' is the past tense of 'at måtte' (to have to).
Det er vigtigt at kunne afvise dårlige idéer.
It is important to be able to reject bad ideas.
Here 'afvise' is in the infinitive form, preceded by 'at kunne' (to be able to).
Lægen afviste at give patienten mere medicin.
The doctor refused to give the patient more medicine.
'afviste at give' shows a refusal to perform an action.
De afviste alle hendes argumenter.
They rejected all her arguments.
'alle' means 'all', modifying 'argumenter'.
Jeg kan ikke afvise muligheden for, at han har ret.
I cannot reject the possibility that he is right.
'afvise muligheden for' is a common construction for 'reject the possibility of'.
Man bør afvise racisme i alle dens former.
One should reject racism in all its forms.
'bør' means 'should', indicating a recommendation or obligation.
Han valgte at afvise tilbuddet om forfremmelse, da det ville betyde for meget rejseaktivitet.
He chose to refuse the offer of promotion, as it would mean too much travel.
Regeringen afviste kritikken af deres nye politik som værende grundløs og ubegrundet.
The government rejected the criticism of their new policy as groundless and unfounded.
Hun afviste alle anklager om bedrageri og fastholdt sin uskyld under retssagen.
She denied all accusations of fraud and maintained her innocence during the trial.
Virksomheden måtte afvise adskillige jobansøgninger på grund af manglende kvalifikationer.
The company had to reject several job applications due to lack of qualifications.
Det er vigtigt at kunne afvise negative tanker for at bevare et positivt livssyn.
It is important to be able to dismiss negative thoughts to maintain a positive outlook on life.
Jeg er nødt til at afvise invitationen til festen, da jeg allerede har en anden aftale.
I have to decline the invitation to the party, as I already have another engagement.
Videnskabsmanden afviste den nye teori, da den ikke var underbygget af tilstrækkelig evidens.
The scientist refuted the new theory, as it was not supported by sufficient evidence.
Banken afviste hans anmodning om et lån på grund af hans dårlige kreditvurdering.
The bank rejected his loan application due to his poor credit rating.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Han valgte at afvise tilbuddet.
He chose to reject the offer.
Jeg må desværre afvise din anmodning.
I unfortunately have to refuse your request.
Hun plejer at afvise alle former for kritik.
She usually rejects all kinds of criticism.
De afviste forslaget uden yderligere diskussion.
They dismissed the suggestion without further discussion.
Det er svært at afvise sådan en god idé.
It's hard to dismiss such a good idea.
Politiet afviste påstanden om tyveri.
The police rejected the claim of theft.
Han forsøgte at afvise skylden for ulykken.
He tried to deny blame for the accident.
Mange ansøgere blev afvist.
Many applicants were rejected.
Det er ikke rart at blive afvist af nogen.
It's not nice to be rejected by someone.
Man skal ikke afvise en god mulighed.
One should not reject a good opportunity.
Souvent confondu avec
'Afslå' is very similar to 'afvise' when it comes to refusing an offer or request, often interchangeable in many contexts but 'afvise' can be broader.
While 'afvise' is an active refusal, 'ignorere' is about not paying attention to something, which can be a form of passive refusal.
As mentioned above, 'forkaste' is a stronger form of rejection, often implying a judgment of unworthiness, whereas 'afvise' can be a more neutral refusal.
Facile à confondre
'Afvise' can be tricky because it covers refusing both people and things, and can sometimes feel stronger than just saying 'nej'.
'Afvise' implies a clear rejection or dismissal. It's not just a polite 'no', but a more definitive refusal to accept, agree to, or acknowledge something or someone.
Hun afviste tilbuddet med et smil. (She refused the offer with a smile.)
Often confused with 'afvise' because both involve saying 'no', but 'nægte' focuses more on denial or refusing to do something.
'Nægte' is specifically about denying a fact or refusing to do an action. You deny an accusation or refuse to obey a command.
Han nægtede at svare på spørgsmålene. (He refused to answer the questions.)
Can be confused as it also involves renouncing something, but the context is typically more formal and about rights or responsibilities.
'Frasige sig' means to renounce, relinquish, or waive a right, claim, or responsibility. It's a formal act of giving something up.
Han frasagde sig arven. (He renounced the inheritance.)
Similar to 'afvise' in the sense of rejecting, but 'forkaste' often has a stronger connotation of deeming something unacceptable or worthless.
'Forkaste' means to reject something as unacceptable, invalid, or flawed. It implies a judgment that something is not good enough or is wrong.
Dommeren forkastede anklagen. (The judge rejected the accusation.)
Very close to 'nægte' but can sometimes feel a bit more formal or emphatic when denying a fact.
'Benægte' is largely synonymous with 'nægte' when it comes to denying a statement or accusation. It emphasizes the act of stating something is not true.
Hun benægtede påstanden om, at hun var skyldig. (She denied the claim that she was guilty.)
Famille de mots
Noms
Adjectifs
Origine du mot
Old Norse: *afvísa*
Sens originel : to ward off, repel
North GermanicContexte culturel
Danes are generally quite direct, so 'at afvise' might be used more readily than in cultures where indirect refusal is preferred. It's a common word in professional and personal contexts when setting boundaries or expressing disagreement clearly.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
When someone declines an offer or invitation.
- Jeg må desværre afvise dit tilbud.
- Jeg er nødt til at afvise invitationen.
- Hun afviste høfligt forslaget.
When a proposal or idea is rejected.
- Bestyrelsen valgte at afvise planen.
- De afviste vores anmodning.
- Dommeren afviste anklagen.
When someone refuses to acknowledge a fact or person.
- Han afviste at have kendskab til sagen.
- Hun afviste fuldstændig hans forklaring.
- De afviste alle beskyldninger.
When a physical object or material is deemed unsuitable.
- Varerne blev afvist ved modtagelsen.
- Kvalitetskontrollen afviste produkterne.
- Vi er nødt til at afvise dette parti.
When a child or pet rejects food.
- Barnet afviste maden.
- Hunden afviste tørfoderet.
- Han afviste grøntsagerne.
Amorces de conversation
"Har du nogensinde været nødt til at afvise et tilbud, der virkede godt?"
"Hvordan reagerer du, når nogen afviser dine ideer?"
"Hvilken er den sværeste ting, du har afvist?"
"Tror du, det er vigtigt at kunne afvise ting? Hvorfor?"
"Hvordan kan man afvise nogen på en venlig måde?"
Sujets d'écriture
Beskriv en situation, hvor du måtte afvise en anmodning. Hvordan føltes det?
Reflektér over en gang, hvor du blev afvist. Hvad lærte du af oplevelsen?
Skriv om tre ting, du har afvist i den seneste uge. Hvorfor afviste du dem?
Forestil dig, at du skal afvise en god ven. Hvordan vil du gøre det, og hvad vil du sige?
Hvilke situationer finder du sværest at afvise? Hvordan kan du blive bedre til det?
Teste-toi 66 questions
Jeg kan ikke ___ gaven.
The sentence means 'I cannot refuse the gift.' 'Afvise' fits best here.
Hun vil ___ forslaget.
The sentence means 'She will reject the proposal.' 'Afvise' is the correct choice for 'reject'.
De måtte ___ tilbuddet.
This means 'They had to refuse the offer.' 'Afvise' correctly conveys 'refuse'.
Jeg ___ invitationen, fordi jeg var travl.
The sentence translates to 'I refused the invitation because I was busy.' 'Afviste' is the past tense of 'afvise'.
Vi kan ikke ___ deres hjælp.
The sentence means 'We cannot refuse their help.' 'Afvise' is the appropriate verb.
Han ville ikke ___ min anmodning.
This translates to 'He would not refuse my request.' 'Afvise' is the correct fit.
Hvilket ord betyder 'at sige nej'?
'Afvise' betyder at nægte at acceptere eller være enig i noget, altså at sige nej.
Hun ville ___ forslaget.
I denne sætning passer 'afvise' bedst, da det betyder at hun ikke ville acceptere forslaget.
Hvad gør man, når man ikke vil have noget?
Hvis man ikke vil have noget, afviser man det.
At afvise noget betyder at sige ja til det.
At afvise noget betyder at sige nej til det, ikke ja.
Man kan afvise et tilbud.
Ja, det er korrekt. Man kan godt afvise et tilbud, hvis man ikke ønsker at tage imod det.
Jeg afviser din invitation, betyder jeg kommer.
At afvise en invitation betyder at man ikke kommer, da man nægter at acceptere den.
Imagine you are invited to a party but you can't go. Write a short Danish sentence to refuse the invitation politely. Try to use a form of 'afvise'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg må desværre afvise invitationen, da jeg ikke kan komme.
Your friend suggests a movie you don't want to see. Write a Danish sentence to politely refuse their suggestion, using 'afvise'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg er nødt til at afvise det filmforslag; jeg vil hellere se noget andet.
Write a Danish sentence about someone refusing an offer to help, using 'afvise'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hun valgte at afvise tilbuddet om hjælp, da hun ville gøre det selv.
Hvad gjorde børnene sandsynligvis?
Read this passage:
Børnene legede i parken. En fremmed mand kom og tilbød dem slik. Moderen havde sagt, at de skulle afvise fremmede.
Hvad gjorde børnene sandsynligvis?
Moderen havde bedt dem afvise fremmede.
Moderen havde bedt dem afvise fremmede.
Hvorfor afviste jeg min ven?
Read this passage:
Jeg har en aftale i morgen, men min ven ville gerne mødes. Jeg måtte afvise ham for at holde min oprindelige aftale.
Hvorfor afviste jeg min ven?
Passagen siger 'Jeg måtte afvise ham for at holde min oprindelige aftale.'
Passagen siger 'Jeg måtte afvise ham for at holde min oprindelige aftale.'
Hvad gjorde patienten med lægens forslag?
Read this passage:
Lægen foreslog en ny medicin. Patienten følte sig ikke tryg ved den og valgte at afvise forslaget. Han ville hellere prøve noget naturligt.
Hvad gjorde patienten med lægens forslag?
Passagen siger, at patienten 'valgte at afvise forslaget'.
Passagen siger, at patienten 'valgte at afvise forslaget'.
This sentence means 'She will not refuse the offer.'
This sentence means 'I cannot refuse your request.'
This sentence means 'They must not refuse the guests.'
Listen for 'afvise' and understand the context of refusing an offer.
Listen for 'afviste' (past tense) and the word for invitation.
Listen for 'afvise' and 'anmodning' (request).
Read this aloud:
Jeg må afvise forslaget.
Focus: afvise, forslaget
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Hun afviste ham venligt.
Focus: afviste, venligt
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
De vil afvise klagen.
Focus: afvise, klagen
Tu as dit :
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Imagine you are at a cafe and the waiter offers you something you don't want. How would you politely refuse in Danish? Use 'afvise' in your answer.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg må desværre afvise tilbuddet. Nej tak.
You received an invitation to an event, but you can't go. Write a short email in Danish explaining that you have to 'afvise' the invitation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg er ked af det, men jeg må afvise invitationen. Jeg kan desværre ikke komme.
You are discussing a new project at work. Someone suggests an idea you don't agree with. How would you express that you 'afvise' the idea, giving a brief reason?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg må afvise idéen, da jeg ikke er enig med den.
Hvad vil regeringen gøre med forslaget om nye skatter ifølge politikeren?
Read this passage:
En politiker udtalte i dag, at regeringen vil afvise forslaget om nye skatter. Han mener, at forslaget vil skade økonomien, og at det er vigtigt at lytte til borgernes bekymringer.
Hvad vil regeringen gøre med forslaget om nye skatter ifølge politikeren?
Passagen siger, at regeringen vil 'afvise forslaget'.
Passagen siger, at regeringen vil 'afvise forslaget'.
Hvorfor måtte lægen afvise patienten?
Read this passage:
Lægen måtte afvise patienten, fordi han ikke havde en gyldig henvisning. Det er en del af hospitalets politik, at alle patienter skal have en henvisning fra deres egen læge.
Hvorfor måtte lægen afvise patienten?
Teksten forklarer, at lægen måtte afvise patienten, 'fordi han ikke havde en gyldig henvisning'.
Teksten forklarer, at lægen måtte afvise patienten, 'fordi han ikke havde en gyldig henvisning'.
Hvorfor ville barnet afvise tilbuddet om en ny bog?
Read this passage:
Barnet forsøgte at afvise tilbuddet om en ny bog, fordi det hellere ville have et stykke legetøj. Forældrene insisterede dog på, at læsning var vigtigt.
Hvorfor ville barnet afvise tilbuddet om en ny bog?
Passagen angiver, at barnet 'hellere ville have et stykke legetøj'.
Passagen angiver, at barnet 'hellere ville have et stykke legetøj'.
This sentence means 'He will refuse the offer.' The order follows the typical Danish sentence structure.
This sentence means 'She could not refuse her request.' The negative 'ikke' comes after the modal verb.
This sentence means 'They have chosen to reject the proposal.' 'At afvise' functions as an infinitive phrase.
Hvilket ord betyder 'at sige nej til noget'?
Ordet 'afvise' betyder at nægte at acceptere eller godkende noget, hvilket stemmer overens med at sige nej til noget.
Hvilken sætning bruger 'afvise' korrekt?
'Afvise' bruges ofte i forbindelse med at nægte at modtage noget eller nægte at acceptere en handling. De andre sætninger er grammatisk ukorrekte eller har en ulogisk betydning i denne kontekst.
Hvad er det modsatte af 'afvise'?
Hvis du 'afviser' noget, siger du nej. Hvis du 'godkender' noget, siger du ja eller accepterer det.
Man kan afvise et forslag.
Ja, det er korrekt. At afvise et forslag betyder at sige nej til det eller ikke at acceptere det.
Ordet 'afvise' bruges kun om fysiske genstande.
Nej, det er forkert. 'Afvise' kan også bruges om abstrakte ting som forslag, ideer eller anmodninger.
Hvis man afviser en person, betyder det, at man ikke vil tale med dem.
Ja, det er korrekt. At afvise en person kan betyde at man ikke ønsker at have kontakt med dem eller at man ikke accepterer deres tilstedeværelse/forsøg på kontakt.
This sentence means 'She chose to refuse the offer.'
This sentence means 'They could not refute the claims.'
This sentence means 'We must reject any form of discrimination.'
Han måtte ___ anklagerne om svindel.
In this context, 'afvise' (to reject/refuse) is the most appropriate verb, as he would need to deny or reject the accusations of fraud.
Virksomheden valgte at ___ forslaget om fusion.
The company decided to 'afvise' (reject) the merger proposal, indicating a refusal to accept it.
Dommeren var nødt til at ___ beviserne på grund af procedurefejl.
The judge had to 'afvise' (dismiss/reject) the evidence due to procedural errors, meaning they could not accept it.
Hun prøvede at overtale ham, men han fortsatte med at ___ hendes argumenter.
He continued to 'afvise' (reject/dismiss) her arguments, showing his unwillingness to accept them.
Det er vigtigt at kunne ___ urimelige krav uden at virke uhøflig.
One must be able to 'afvise' (refuse/reject) unreasonable demands gracefully.
Selvom hun respekterede hans mening, måtte hun ___ hans løsningsforslag.
Despite respecting his opinion, she had to 'afvise' (reject) his proposed solution, meaning she couldn't agree to it.
This sentence structure (Subject + Verb + Infinitive phrase) is common in Danish. 'Bestemt' (decided) is followed by 'at afvise' (to refuse).
The modal verb 'ville' (would) comes before 'ikke' (not) and the main verb 'afvise' (refuse).
This construction uses 'det var svært at' (it was difficult to) followed by the infinitive 'afvise' (refuse) and the object 'disse anklager' (these accusations).
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur general
afbryde
B1To stop something from continuing
afbøje
B2To deflect or turn aside.
afgørende
B1decisive or crucial
afholde
B2to hold or host an event, or to refrain from
afhængig
B1Determined or decided by something else
afkorte
B2To shorten or reduce in length.
afmærke
B2To mark or indicate a position.
afrunde
B2To conclude or make complete.
afslutte
B1to bring to an end
afsløre
B2to make something secret known
