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A1 noun 7 min de lecture

mulighed

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces mulighed en 30 secondes

Explication mulighed in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'mulighed' is a very useful word for expressing basic needs and simple plans. You can think of it as 'a chance' or 'a way' to do something. For example, if you want to say 'I have a chance to work', you would say 'Jeg har en mulighed for at arbejde'. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex grammar; just remember that it is 'en mulighed' (a possibility) and that it usually describes something you can or might do. It is often used with the verb 'at have' (to have) or 'at være' (to be). You might see it on signs or in simple instructions. The most important thing is to recognize that 'mulighed' means something is possible. You can use it to ask for help: 'Er der en mulighed for hjælp?' (Is there a possibility for help?). It is a polite and clear way to communicate potential actions. Even if your Danish is limited, using 'mulighed' shows you are thinking about options and future actions. Try to practice saying the word slowly, focusing on the soft 'd' at the end, which sounds almost like a very soft 'th' in English. It is one of those words that will make your basic Danish sound much more natural and sophisticated.

At the A2 level, you should start using 'mulighed' in more varied sentences. You will begin to use the plural form 'muligheder' to talk about having many options. For example, 'Der er mange muligheder i København' (There are many possibilities in Copenhagen). You should also become comfortable with the preposition 'for', which almost always follows 'mulighed' when you want to specify what the possibility is. At this level, you can use the word to describe your daily life, your job search, or your travel plans. You might say, 'Jeg undersøger mulighederne for en ferie' (I am investigating the possibilities for a holiday). You will also encounter 'mulighed' in compound words like 'uddannelsesmuligheder' (education opportunities). Understanding how to link 'mulighed' with an infinitive verb (using 'for at') is a key milestone at A2. For instance, 'Jeg har mulighed for at lære dansk hver dag'. This structure allows you to talk about your routine and your goals with more precision. You are moving beyond simple existence and starting to talk about potential and choice, which is a vital part of intermediate communication.

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At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'mulighed' with greater nuance and in more professional or abstract contexts. You will distinguish between 'en reel mulighed' (a real possibility) and 'en teoretisk mulighed' (a theoretical possibility). You should also be able to use the word in the passive voice or with more complex verbs like 'at opstå' (to arise) or 'at udnytte' (to exploit). For example, 'En ny mulighed er opstået' (A new opportunity has arisen). You will also start to see 'mulighed' used in debates and discussions about social issues, such as 'ligestilling og muligheder' (equality and opportunities). At B1, you should also be aware of the difference between 'mulighed' and 'chance'. While 'mulighed' is neutral, 'chance' can imply a risk or a lucky break. You might say, 'Vi har en god mulighed for at vinde, hvis vi træner hårdt'. This level also involves understanding common idioms and fixed expressions like 'at lade en mulighed gå fra sig' (to let an opportunity pass). Your ability to use 'mulighed' to weigh pros and cons in a discussion is a hallmark of reaching the B1 threshold.

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At the B2 level, 'mulighed' becomes a tool for sophisticated argumentation and detailed analysis. You will use it to discuss complex scenarios, such as 'økonomiske vækstmuligheder' (economic growth opportunities) or 'politiske handlemuligheder' (political options for action). You should be comfortable using the word in long, subordinate clauses and with a wide range of academic and professional adjectives. For example, 'Det er afgørende at vi identificerer de mest lovende muligheder for innovation'. At this level, you are not just describing what is possible, but evaluating the quality and feasibility of those possibilities. You will also use the word to express hypothetical situations using the subjunctive or conditional moods: 'Hvis vi havde haft muligheden, ville vi have gjort det anderledes'. You should also be able to recognize and use related nouns like 'muliggørelse' (enabling/making possible). Your vocabulary should include synonyms like 'anledning' and 'potentiale', and you should know exactly when to choose 'mulighed' over them for the right register and tone. B2 learners use 'mulighed' to navigate the complexities of Danish professional life and academic writing with confidence.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'mulighed' is near-native in its precision and stylistic variety. You will use it to explore philosophical concepts, such as 'menneskets muligheder' (human possibilities) or the existential 'mulighedens angst' (the anxiety of possibility, a Kierkegaardian concept). You will be able to dissect the word's role in complex legal or technical documents, understanding nuances like 'mulighedserklæring' (a declaration of possibility, often used in Danish labor law). Your sentences will be fluid and incorporate 'mulighed' into idiomatic and rhetorical structures effortlessly. For example, 'Det ligger inden for mulighedens grænser, omend det er lidet sandsynligt'. At this level, you also understand the subtle connotations the word carries in different Danish dialects or social registers. You can use 'mulighed' to lead high-level negotiations, framing options in a way that influences the outcome. You are also capable of using the word creatively in literature or persuasive writing, playing with its meaning to create impact. Your command of 'mulighed' reflects a deep understanding of the Danish language's structure and the cultural values of pragmatism and potential that it embodies.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'mulighed' and its myriad applications. You can use it with the same ease as a highly educated native speaker, incorporating it into complex intellectual discourse, literary analysis, and high-stakes professional communication. You understand the historical evolution of the word and how it has been shaped by Danish thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard, who famously wrote about 'mulighed' as a central theme of existence. You can navigate the most subtle distinctions between 'mulighed', 'potentialitet', 'kontingens', and 'virtualitet' in a philosophical or scientific context. Your usage is characterized by perfect grammatical accuracy, even in the most convoluted sentence structures. For instance, you might write: 'Selve muligheden for en transformativ diskurs hviler på deltagernes evne til at transcendere deres egne forudindtagede holdninger'. At this level, 'mulighed' is no longer just a vocabulary word; it is a versatile conceptual building block that you use to construct complex ideas and express the finest shades of meaning. You are also able to critique the use of the word in others' speech and writing, identifying when it is used as a cliché or a rhetorical device. Your mastery of 'mulighed' is a testament to your profound integration into the Danish linguistic and cultural landscape.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

mulighed en 30 secondes

Mulighed means possibility or opportunity in Danish.
It is a common gender noun: en mulighed, muligheden.
The plural form is muligheder, meaning many options.
It is frequently used with the preposition 'for'.

The Danish word mulighed is one of the most versatile and essential nouns in the Danish language. At its core, it translates to 'possibility', 'opportunity', or 'chance'. It is derived from the adjective mulig (possible) combined with the suffix -hed, which is equivalent to the English '-ness' or '-ity', effectively creating the state of being possible. In everyday Danish, you will encounter this word in contexts ranging from casual social invitations to high-level business strategy and philosophical debates. Whether you are talking about a job opening, a potential outcome of a football match, or the sheer potential of a new day, mulighed is your go-to term.

Grammatical Gender: Mulighed is a common gender noun (fælleskøn), meaning it takes the article 'en' and the definite suffix '-en'.
Pluralization: The plural form is 'muligheder', and the definite plural is 'mulighederne'.
Core Nuance: Unlike the word 'chance', which often implies luck, 'mulighed' feels more grounded in structural or logical potential.

Der er en god mulighed for regn i dag.

Translation: There is a good possibility of rain today.

Vi må gribe denne mulighed.

Translation: We must seize this opportunity.

Verden er fuld af muligheder.

Translation: The world is full of possibilities.

Jeg ser ingen anden mulighed.

Translation: I see no other option.

Det er en teoretisk mulighed.

Translation: It is a theoretical possibility.

Understanding 'mulighed' is about understanding the Danish mindset of pragmatism—looking at what is feasible and what options are available on the table.

Using mulighed correctly requires attention to its surrounding prepositions and verbs. The most common construction is mulighed for at... (possibility to...) followed by an infinitive verb. For example, 'Jeg har mulighed for at rejse' (I have the possibility to travel). Another common pattern is mulighed for followed by a noun, such as 'mulighed for succes' (possibility for success). In more formal writing, you might see 'mulighed for' used to describe scope or potential in a technical sense.

Verb Pairing: Common verbs that precede 'mulighed' include 'give' (to give), 'skabe' (to create), 'undersøge' (to investigate), and 'udnytte' (to exploit/utilize).
Adjective Modifiers: You will often see 'enestående' (unique), 'begrænset' (limited), 'reel' (real), or 'fremtidig' (future) modifying this noun.
Negative Constructions: 'Der er ingen mulighed for...' is the standard way to express that something is impossible or there is no way forward.

Vi undersøger alle muligheder før vi beslutter os.

Translation: We are investigating all possibilities before we decide.

Kurset giver dig en god mulighed for at netværke.

Translation: The course gives you a good opportunity to network.

Der er en reel mulighed for at vi vinder.

Translation: There is a real possibility that we win.

De mange muligheder gør valget svært.

Translation: The many possibilities make the choice difficult.

Han udnyttede ikke sin mulighed.

Translation: He did not exploit his opportunity.

Mastering these patterns will help you sound more like a native speaker and less like you are translating directly from English.

In Denmark, mulighed is ubiquitous. If you listen to the news (nyhederne), you will hear politicians talking about 'nye muligheder' for the economy or 'begrænsede muligheder' for reform. In a workplace, your boss might talk about 'udviklingsmuligheder' (development opportunities). Even in casual conversation, a friend might ask, 'Er der en mulighed for, at vi kan mødes i morgen?' (Is there a possibility that we can meet tomorrow?). It is a word that bridges the gap between formal planning and informal spontaneity.

Job Advertisements: You will see 'gode karrieremuligheder' (good career opportunities) in almost every job posting.
Weather Forecasts: Meteorologists use it to express probability: 'Der er mulighed for sol sidst på dagen'.
Customer Service: A support agent might say 'Der er desværre ingen mulighed for refundering' (Unfortunately, there is no possibility of a refund).

Har du mulighed for at hjælpe mig?

Context: Asking a colleague for help in a polite way.

Der er rige muligheder for friluftsliv i området.

Context: A tourism brochure describing a nature park.

Vi må se på de økonomiske muligheder.

Context: A business meeting about budgeting.

Er der mulighed for parkering?

Context: Asking about parking at a venue.

Livet er en mulighed, ikke en selvfølge.

Context: A philosophical or poetic statement.

Because it is so frequent, you will start noticing it in subtitles, posters, and radio broadcasts almost immediately upon arriving in Denmark.

English speakers often struggle with the distinction between mulighed, chance, and lejlighed. While they all overlap with 'opportunity' or 'chance', they are not interchangeable in Danish. A common mistake is using 'chance' when you mean 'possibility'. In Danish, 'chance' often implies a risk or a lucky break, whereas 'mulighed' is more neutral. Another error is using the wrong preposition; as mentioned, it is always 'mulighed for', never 'mulighed til'.

Mulighed vs. Chance: Use 'mulighed' for options and potential; use 'chance' for luck or probability of success/failure.
Mulighed vs. Lejlighed: 'Lejlighed' means 'opportunity' in the sense of 'occasion' (and also 'apartment'). Use it for specific timing.
Plural Confusion: Don't forget the 'er' in the plural: 'mange muligheder', not 'mange mulighed'.

FEJL: Jeg har en mulighed til at gå.

Correction: Jeg har en mulighed for at gå.

FEJL: Der er en chance for regn.

Correction: Better to say 'mulighed for regn' (neutral) or 'risiko for regn' (negative).

FEJL: Ved denne mulighed...

Correction: Use 'Ved denne lejlighed' (On this occasion).

FEJL: Han har mange mulighede.

Correction: Han har mange muligheder.

FEJL: En stor mulighed er kommet.

Note: While grammatically okay, 'mulighed' usually doesn't 'come' like a person; it 'opstår' (arises).

By being mindful of these distinctions, you will avoid the most common pitfalls that trip up English-speaking learners.

To truly master the concept of 'possibility', you should know the synonyms and related terms that provide different shades of meaning. Danish offers several alternatives depending on whether you are talking about a lucky break, a formal occasion, or a logical option.

Chance vs. Mulighed: 'Chance' is often used for probability or luck. 'Mulighed' is for potential or options. Example: 'Der er en chance for gevinst' (There is a chance of winning).
Lejlighed vs. Mulighed: 'Lejlighed' refers to a specific occasion or timing. Example: 'Jeg benytter lejligheden til at sige tak' (I take the opportunity to say thanks).
Option vs. Mulighed: 'Option' is used in more technical or financial contexts, whereas 'mulighed' is the general term for a choice.

Der er mange valgmuligheder.

Compound: Choice-possibilities (options).

Dette er en god anledning til fest.

Alternative: 'Anledning' (occasion/reason).

Det er en eventualitet.

Alternative: 'Eventualitet' (eventuality/contingency).

Vi har flere alternativer.

Alternative: 'Alternativer' (alternatives).

Det er inden for rækkevidde.

Idiom: Within reach (a type of possibility).

Expanding your vocabulary with these synonyms will allow you to be more precise and expressive in your Danish.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The suffix '-hed' is cognate with English '-hood' (as in neighborhood) and German '-heit' (as in Freiheit).

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈmuːliˌheðˀ/

US /ˈmuːliˌheðˀ/

Primary stress is on the first syllable 'mu'.

Rime avec

lejlighed kærlighed sikkerhed frihed enighed sandhed vittighed stolthed

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the final 'd' as a hard English 'd'.
Pronouncing 'mu' too short like in 'mud'.
Skipping the 'h' in the suffix '-hed'.
Stressing the second syllable 'li'.
Mixing up the 'u' sound with an 'o' sound.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in text due to the common '-hed' ending.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering the 'g' and the common gender article.

Expression orale 4/5

The soft 'd' and the 'u' sound can be tricky for beginners.

Écoute 3/5

Commonly used, so easily heard, but can be spoken quickly.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

mulig en have være for

Apprends ensuite

lejlighed chance anledning potentiale muliggøre

Avancé

kontingens potentialitet virtualitet paradigmatisk

Grammaire à connaître

Noun Suffix -hed

Fri + hed = Frihed (Freedom). Mulig + hed = Mulighed.

Preposition 'for' with nouns

Mulighed for succes (Possibility of success).

Infinitive with 'for at'

Mulighed for at rejse (Possibility to travel).

Common Gender Nouns

En mulighed, muligheden.

Plural Formation with -er

Mulighed -> Muligheder.

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Exemples par niveau

Jeg har en mulighed.

I have a possibility.

Simple subject + verb + object construction.

Er der en mulighed?

Is there a possibility?

Inverted word order for a question.

Det er en god mulighed.

It is a good opportunity.

'God' is an adjective modifying the common gender noun 'mulighed'.

Se på denne mulighed.

Look at this possibility.

Imperative verb 'se'.

En ny mulighed.

A new opportunity.

Noun phrase with an adjective.

Har du en mulighed for at hjælpe?

Do you have a possibility to help?

Use of 'for at' + infinitive.

Der er ingen mulighed.

There is no possibility.

Using 'ingen' for negation.

Dette er din mulighed.

This is your opportunity.

Possessive pronoun 'din'.

Der er mange muligheder her.

There are many possibilities here.

Plural form 'muligheder'.

Jeg ser mulighederne.

I see the possibilities.

Definite plural form '-erne'.

Vi undersøger muligheden for regn.

We are investigating the possibility of rain.

Definite singular form '-en'.

Han har gode muligheder for et job.

He has good opportunities for a job.

Adjective 'gode' matches the plural noun.

Er der mulighed for parkering?

Is there a possibility for parking?

Common phrase in urban settings.

Vi har ikke mulighed for at komme.

We don't have the possibility to come.

Negation with 'ikke'.

Hvilken mulighed vælger du?

Which possibility do you choose?

Interrogative pronoun 'hvilken'.

Dette er en enestående mulighed.

This is a unique opportunity.

Strong adjective 'enestående'.

Vi må udnytte denne mulighed fuldt ud.

We must exploit this opportunity fully.

Adverbial phrase 'fuldt ud'.

Der opstod en uventet mulighed.

An unexpected opportunity arose.

Verb 'opstod' (past tense of opstå).

Jeg overvejer alle mine muligheder.

I am considering all my possibilities.

Verb 'overvejer' (considering).

Kurset giver rige muligheder for læring.

The course provides rich opportunities for learning.

Idiomatic use of 'rige' (rich/abundant).

Er der mulighed for at få rabat?

Is there a possibility to get a discount?

Polite inquiry structure.

Vi har undersøgt alle tænkelige muligheder.

We have investigated all conceivable possibilities.

Adjective 'tænkelige' (conceivable).

Muligheden for succes er stor.

The possibility of success is great.

Subject-complement structure.

Han lod muligheden gå fra sig.

He let the opportunity pass him by.

Idiomatic expression.

De økonomiske muligheder er begrænsede.

The economic possibilities are limited.

Adjective 'begrænsede' in plural form.

Virksomheden ser store vækstmuligheder.

The company sees great growth opportunities.

Compound noun 'vækstmuligheder'.

Der er tale om en reel mulighed.

It is a matter of a real possibility.

Phrase 'der er tale om' (it is a case of).

Vi må vurdere de forskellige muligheder.

We must evaluate the different possibilities.

Verb 'vurdere' (evaluate).

Uddannelse åbner døre og muligheder.

Education opens doors and opportunities.

Metaphorical usage.

Muligheden for fejl skal minimeres.

The possibility of error must be minimized.

Passive construction 'skal minimeres'.

Han greb muligheden med begge hænder.

He seized the opportunity with both hands.

Idiomatic expression for enthusiasm.

Hvilke handlemuligheder har vi i denne sag?

What options for action do we have in this case?

Compound noun 'handlemuligheder'.

Eksistensen rummer uendelige muligheder.

Existence contains infinite possibilities.

Philosophical register.

Der er ingen teoretisk mulighed for det.

There is no theoretical possibility of that.

Academic register.

Muligheden for eskalering er til stede.

The possibility of escalation is present.

Formal political language.

Vi må udelukke visse muligheder på forhånd.

We must exclude certain possibilities beforehand.

Verb 'udelukke' (exclude).

Han er fanget i mulighedens tyranni.

He is trapped in the tyranny of possibility.

Literary/psychological metaphor.

Muligheden for en fredelig løsning svinder.

The possibility of a peaceful solution is fading.

Verb 'svinder' (fading/dwindling).

Dette projekt åbner for hidtil usete muligheder.

This project opens up for hitherto unseen possibilities.

Adverb 'hidtil' (hitherto).

Vi har undersøgt muligheden for en fusion.

We have investigated the possibility of a merger.

Business context.

Mulighedens ontologiske status er omdiskuteret.

The ontological status of possibility is debated.

Highly academic terminology.

Vi må navigere i et felt af kontingente muligheder.

We must navigate in a field of contingent possibilities.

Advanced vocabulary 'kontingente'.

Selve muligheden for erkendelse er betinget.

The very possibility of cognition is conditioned.

Abstract philosophical subject.

Han udforsker grænserne for den menneskelige mulighed.

He explores the limits of human possibility.

Existential tone.

Der foreligger en latent mulighed for konflikt.

There is a latent possibility of conflict.

Formal verb 'foreligger'.

Muligheden for en paradigmatisk vending er reel.

The possibility of a paradigmatic shift is real.

Scientific/scholarly register.

Vi må ikke forveksle mulighed med nødvendighed.

We must not confuse possibility with necessity.

Logical distinction.

Muligheden for personlig vækst er iboende i krisen.

The possibility for personal growth is inherent in the crisis.

Sophisticated psychological insight.

Collocations courantes

god mulighed

mulighed for

undersøge mulighederne

gribe muligheden

mange muligheder

reel mulighed

begrænsede muligheder

enestående mulighed

give mulighed for

inden for mulighedens grænser

Phrases Courantes

Der er mulighed for...

— Used to say that something is possible or likely.

Der er mulighed for regn.

Har du mulighed for at...?

— A polite way to ask if someone can do something.

Har du mulighed for at hjælpe mig?

Jeg ser ingen anden mulighed.

— Used when there is only one course of action.

Jeg ser ingen anden mulighed end at gå.

Gribe muligheden

— To take advantage of an opportunity quickly.

Du skal gribe muligheden nu.

En verden af muligheder

— A poetic way to say there are endless options.

Internettet åbner en verden af muligheder.

Efter bedste mulighed

— Doing something as well as circumstances allow.

Jeg gjorde det efter bedste mulighed.

Muligheden foreligger

— Formal way to say the possibility exists.

Muligheden foreligger stadig.

Udelukke en mulighed

— To decide that something is not going to happen.

Vi kan ikke udelukke den mulighed.

Skabe muligheder

— To proactively make things possible for oneself or others.

Vi skal skabe nye muligheder for de unge.

Alle muligheder er åbne

— Nothing has been decided yet.

I denne sag er alle muligheder åbne.

Souvent confondu avec

mulighed vs chance

English speakers use 'chance' for everything, but Danish uses 'mulighed' for neutral possibilities.

mulighed vs lejlighed

Means 'opportunity' as in 'occasion' or 'apartment'. Use 'mulighed' for 'potential'.

mulighed vs måske

An adverb meaning 'maybe'. 'Mulighed' is the noun form of the concept.

Expressions idiomatiques

"At lade en mulighed gå fra sig"

— To miss or ignore an opportunity.

Han lod muligheden gå fra sig.

neutral

"Inden for mulighedens grænser"

— Within what is practically possible.

Vi gør alt inden for mulighedens grænser.

formal

"At se muligheder frem for begrænsninger"

— To have an optimistic and proactive mindset.

Hun ser altid muligheder frem for begrænsninger.

neutral

"At give nogen en mulighed"

— To allow someone to prove themselves.

Giv ham en mulighed for at vise hvad han kan.

neutral

"Muligheden er forspildt"

— The opportunity is wasted or gone.

Nu er muligheden forspildt.

neutral

"At have mange strenge at spille på"

— To have many possibilities or skills to use (idiomatic synonym).

Hun har mange strenge at spille på.

informal

"At holde alle muligheder åbne"

— To avoid making a final decision yet.

Jeg foretrækker at holde alle muligheder åbne.

neutral

"En gylden mulighed"

— An exceptionally good opportunity.

Dette er en gylden mulighed.

neutral

"At være fuld af muligheder"

— To have a lot of potential.

Dette projekt er fuld af muligheder.

neutral

"At udforske alle muligheder"

— To look into every possible option.

Vi må udforske alle muligheder før vi giver op.

neutral

Facile à confondre

mulighed vs chance

Direct translation from English.

Chance in Danish often implies risk or luck, while mulighed is neutral potential.

Jeg tager en chance (I take a risk). Jeg har en mulighed (I have an option).

mulighed vs lejlighed

Both translate to 'opportunity'.

Lejlighed is a specific time or event. Mulighed is the existence of an option.

Ved denne lejlighed (On this occasion). En god mulighed (A good opportunity).

mulighed vs anledning

Both mean 'reason' or 'chance'.

Anledning is the cause or trigger for something to happen.

Der er ingen anledning til bekymring (No reason for concern).

mulighed vs option

Loanword from English.

Option is used for specific settings or financial contracts.

Vi har flere optioner i menuen (We have several options in the menu).

mulighed vs potentiale

Synonyms in some contexts.

Potentiale refers to inner capacity, while mulighed refers to external options.

Han har potentiale til at blive stor (He has potential to become great).

Structures de phrases

Jeg har en [mulighed].

Jeg har en mulighed.

Der er [mulighed] for [noun].

Der er mulighed for regn.

Har du [mulighed] for at [verb]?

Har du mulighed for at hjælpe?

Vi må [verb] alle [muligheder].

Vi må undersøge alle muligheder.

Muligheden for [abstract noun] er [adjective].

Muligheden for eskalering er reel.

Selve [muligheden] for [concept] [verb].

Selve muligheden for succes forsvinder.

Der er mange [muligheder] her.

Der er mange muligheder her.

Han greb [muligheden].

Han greb muligheden.

Famille de mots

Noms

muliggørelse

valgmulighed

vækstmulighed

karrieremulighed

Verbes

muliggøre

Adjectifs

mulig

umulig

Apparenté

potentiale

chance

lejlighed

anledning

option

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely high in daily speech, media, and literature.

Erreurs courantes

Jeg har en mulighed til at gå. → Jeg har en mulighed for at gå.
In Danish, 'mulighed' takes the preposition 'for', not 'til'.
Der er mange mulighed. → Der er mange muligheder.
After 'mange' (many), you must use the plural form of the noun.
Jeg tager muligheden for at vinde lotto. → Jeg har en chance for at vinde lotto.
Use 'chance' for things involving luck or gambling; 'mulighed' is for more general options.
Et mulighed. → En mulighed.
'Mulighed' is a common gender noun, so it takes the article 'en'.
Ved denne mulighed vil jeg takke jer. → Ved denne lejlighed vil jeg takke jer.
When referring to a specific occasion or moment, use 'lejlighed'.

Astuces

Suffix Power

Remember that almost all Danish nouns ending in '-hed' are common gender ('en'). This rule applies to 'mulighed', 'frihed', 'sikkerhed', etc.

Avoid English Traps

Don't just use 'chance' because it sounds like English. 'Mulighed' is usually the better, more natural choice for Danish speakers.

Soft D Practice

The soft 'd' is key. Practice saying 'mad' (food) and then 'mulighed' to get the tongue position right.

Preposition Focus

Always pair 'mulighed' with 'for'. If you use 'til', Danes will understand you, but it will sound slightly wrong.

Business Danish

In a job interview, talk about 'muligheder for udvikling' (opportunities for development) to impress the employer.

Compound Words

Danish loves compound words. Try to use 'karrieremuligheder' instead of 'muligheder for karriere' for a more native feel.

Listen for News

The word 'mulighed' appears in almost every news broadcast. Listen for it to see how journalists use it in different contexts.

Plural Definite

The definite plural 'mulighederne' is long. Make sure to spell it with all the 'e's: m-u-l-i-g-h-e-d-e-r-n-e.

Danish Pragmatism

When a Dane says 'der er en mulighed', they are usually being quite literal. It's not just a polite 'maybe'.

Connect to 'Mulig'

If you know 'mulig' (possible), just add '-hed' to get the noun. It's a simple way to expand your vocabulary.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Mule' + 'i' + 'Head'. A mule has the possibility in its head to go anywhere!

Association visuelle

Imagine a door with a sign that says 'MULIGHED' and a golden key next to it.

Word Web

Option Chance Potential Choice Future Action Growth Path

Défi

Try to use the word 'mulighed' in three different sentences today: one about your job, one about your hobbies, and one about the weather.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Danish adjective 'mulig' and the noun-forming suffix '-hed'. 'Mulig' comes from Middle Low German 'mogelik', which is related to the verb 'møge' (to be able to/can).

Sens originel : The state of being able to happen or be done.

Germanic (Danish/North Germanic branch).

Contexte culturel

No specific sensitivities; the word is universally positive or neutral.

English speakers might find 'mulighed' more formal than 'chance', but in Danish, it is the standard neutral word.

Søren Kierkegaard's 'Begrebet Angst' (The Concept of Anxiety) discusses 'mulighed' extensively. The Danish national anthem implies the possibilities of the land. Modern Danish pop songs often use 'muligheder' to talk about love and the future.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Job Search

karrieremuligheder
udviklingsmuligheder
mulighed for avancement
nye muligheder

Weather

mulighed for regn
mulighed for sol
mulighed for sne
mulighed for tåge

Travel

overnatningsmuligheder
transportmuligheder
mulighed for sightseeing
parkeringsmulighed

Education

uddannelsesmuligheder
mulighed for legat
mulighed for udveksling
læringsmuligheder

Daily Life

valgmuligheder
mulighed for hjælp
se muligheder
ingen mulighed

Amorces de conversation

"Hvilke muligheder ser du for din fremtid i Danmark?"

"Er der gode muligheder for sport i din by?"

"Har du nogensinde grebet en uventet mulighed?"

"Hvad er den bedste mulighed, du nogensinde har fået?"

"Ser du flest muligheder eller begrænsninger i dit arbejde?"

Sujets d'écriture

Skriv om en gang du fik en stor mulighed og hvad du gjorde.

Hvilke uddannelsesmuligheder overvejer du lige nu?

Beskriv de muligheder der er for at lære dansk i din fritid.

Hvorfor er det vigtigt at have mange muligheder i livet?

Reflektér over en tabt mulighed og hvad du lærte af den.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It is common gender (fælleskøn), so you say 'en mulighed' and 'muligheden'. This is consistent with most nouns ending in '-hed'.

In Danish, 'mulighed' is the general word for possibility. 'Chance' is often used when there is a sense of luck, risk, or a specific probability of winning/losing. For example, 'en chance for gevinst' (a chance to win) vs 'en mulighed for at gå' (an opportunity to go).

You say 'mange muligheder'. The plural is formed by adding '-er' to the end.

The most common preposition is 'for'. For example: 'mulighed for succes' or 'mulighed for at lære'.

No, that is 'lejlighed'. While both can mean 'opportunity', only 'lejlighed' means a place to live.

Yes, it is used across all registers, from very informal chat to highly formal academic or legal texts.

The '-hed' part has a soft 'd'. It sounds like a very soft 'th' in English 'this', but you don't stick your tongue out as far.

It literally means 'choice-possibility'. It is the standard word for 'option' or 'choice' when you have several paths to take.

Yes, it is very common: 'Der er mulighed for regn' (There is a possibility of rain).

The most direct opposite is 'umulighed' (impossibility).

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