When you're learning Danish at the B1 level, you're starting to understand more nuanced concepts, and words like "tendens" are great for expressing observations about trends or common behaviors. It's a useful term for describing how things are generally going or what's becoming popular. You'll often hear it in discussions about societal shifts, market trends, or even personal habits. Knowing this word helps you engage in more sophisticated conversations and understand a wider range of Danish media.
When we talk about a 'tendens' in Danish, it's very similar to the English word 'tendency' or 'trend'. It describes a general direction something is taking or a common inclination. You might hear it used to talk about fashion, economic movements, or even someone's habits.
For example, if everyone in Denmark starts wearing a certain type of shoe, you could say there's a 'tendens' for that style. It's about recognizing patterns and general leanings.
When we talk about the word "tendens" in Danish, we're looking at something that points towards a certain development or inclination. Think of it as a prevailing direction or a general leaning towards something.
It's similar to the English word "tendency" or "trend." For example, if many people start doing something, you could say there's a "tendens" for that activity to become popular.
You might hear it in sentences like, "Der er en tendens til, at flere unge studerer i udlandet," meaning, "There is a tendency for more young people to study abroad." Or, "Priserne viser en opadgående tendens," which translates to, "The prices show an upward trend."
It helps you describe patterns or directions you observe in various situations, from social behaviors to economic shifts. So, it's a handy word for describing a general movement or inclination.
Let's talk about the Danish word tendens. This word is quite common, and you'll hear it in many different situations. It's useful to know because it helps you describe patterns, shifts, and general directions in things.
§ What does 'tendens' mean?
- Definition
- A fashion or inclination to move in a direction; a trend, tendency, or disposition.
So, when Danes use tendens, they are usually talking about a general pattern or a way that something is developing. It's not about a single event, but rather a broader movement or preference. Think of it like a current in a river – it's pushing things in a certain direction.
You'll often hear it in discussions about statistics, fashion, social behavior, or even personal habits. It describes something that is happening more and more, or less and less, over time.
§ When do people use 'tendens'?
People use tendens when they want to point out a general direction or a prevailing characteristic. Here are some common scenarios:
- Describing trends: This is probably the most straightforward use. If there's a new style of clothing, a new way people are eating, or a new type of music gaining popularity, you can use tendens to describe it.
- Talking about developments: In discussions about the economy, politics, or technology, tendens can refer to how things are progressing or changing.
- Mentioning inclinations or dispositions: Sometimes, it can refer to a person's natural habit or a general disposition towards something.
- Analyzing data: When looking at numbers or statistics, tendens helps to summarize what the data is showing – is it going up, down, or staying the same?
§ Examples in context
Let's look at some examples to make it clearer:
Der er en klar tendens til, at folk køber mere økologisk mad.
- Hint
- There is a clear tendency for people to buy more organic food.
Den nye tendens inden for mode er pastelfarver.
- Hint
- The new trend in fashion is pastel colors.
Han har en tendens til at komme for sent.
- Hint
- He has a tendency to be late.
Vi ser en positiv tendens i salgstallene.
- Hint
- We see a positive trend in the sales figures.
As you can see, tendens is a versatile word that you can use in many different contexts. Pay attention to how it's used in Danish media and conversations, and you'll quickly get a feel for it.
§ Understanding "tendens"
The Danish word "tendens" (pronounced ten-DENSS) is a versatile noun that you'll hear and see quite often. It generally refers to a trend, a tendency, or an inclination. Think of it as describing a direction something is moving in, or a common habit or characteristic.
- Word Type
- Noun (common gender, en-word)
- Plural
- Tendenser
- CEFR Level
- B1
§ Common Uses of "tendens"
You'll find "tendens" used in various contexts, from describing societal trends to individual habits. Here are a few common scenarios:
Fashion and social trends: When talking about what's popular or what people are generally doing.
Der er en ny tendens inden for mode. (There is a new fashion trend.)
General inclinations or habits: Describing how someone or something usually behaves.
Han har en tendens til at komme for sent. (He has a tendency to be late.)
Statistical or economic trends: Used in more formal or analytical contexts.
Der er en stigende tendens i inflationen. (There is a rising trend in inflation.)
§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives
While "tendens" is widely used, Danish has other words that can sometimes be used in similar contexts, but with slightly different nuances. Understanding these differences will help you choose the most precise word.
§ Trend / Mode (Trend / Fashion)
The English word "trend" is also used directly in Danish, particularly in fashion and social media contexts. "Mode" specifically refers to fashion. While "tendens" can cover fashion trends, "trend" often implies something more fleeting or contemporary. "Mode" is purely about clothing and style.
Denne trend er meget populær lige nu. (This trend is very popular right now.)
Den seneste mode er farverige sko. (The latest fashion is colorful shoes.)
§ Hang / Tilbøjelighed (Inclination / Propensity)
When talking about a personal inclination or a natural propensity, "hang" or "tilbøjelighed" can be good alternatives. "Hang" is a bit more informal and often implies a slight negative or quirky habit. "Tilbøjelighed" is more formal and simply means an inclination or a leaning towards something.
Han har et hang til chokolade. (He has a soft spot / tendency for chocolate.)
Min kat har en tilbøjelighed til at sove hele dagen. (My cat has an inclination to sleep all day.)
§ Udvikling (Development / Evolution)
While "tendens" describes a current direction, "udvikling" focuses on the process of change or growth over time. You might see a "tendens" towards a certain "udvikling."
Der er en positiv udvikling i økonomien. (There is a positive development in the economy.)
In summary, "tendens" is your go-to word for describing a general direction, a prevailing trend, or a common inclination. When in doubt, it's often a safe and correct choice. However, as you become more advanced, you can start to incorporate these more specific alternatives to add nuance to your Danish.
Niveau de difficulté
short
short
short
short
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Nouns in Danish have grammatical gender (common or neuter). 'Tendens' is a common gender noun.
en tendens (a tendency)
When a common gender noun is definite and singular, it takes the suffix -en.
tendensen (the tendency)
When a common gender noun is plural, it often takes the suffix -er or -e. 'Tendens' takes -er.
tendenser (tendencies)
When a common gender noun is definite and plural, it takes the suffix -erne.
tendenserne (the tendencies)
Adjectives describing 'tendens' will agree in form with the common gender.
en ny tendens (a new tendency)
Exemples par niveau
Der er en tendens til at spise mere sundt.
There is a tendency to eat more healthily.
Hvilken tendens ser du i dagens mode?
What trend do you see in today's fashion?
Jeg har en tendens til at sove for længe i weekenden.
I have a tendency to sleep too long on the weekend.
Den nye tendens er at genbruge gamle møbler.
The new trend is to reuse old furniture.
Der er en tendens til at bruge mobiltelefoner mere og mere.
There is a tendency to use mobile phones more and more.
Hendes tendens er altid at være positiv.
Her tendency is always to be positive.
Vi ser en tendens til, at flere rejser alene.
We see a trend that more people travel alone.
Der er en klar tendens i disse tal.
There is a clear tendency in these numbers.
Der er en tendens til, at flere unge studerer i udlandet.
There is a tendency for more young people to study abroad.
Here, 'tendens' is used with 'til' (to), indicating a trend towards something.
Vi ser en klar tendens i markedspriserne.
We see a clear trend in market prices.
'Klar tendens' means 'clear trend'.
Hun har en tendens til at være perfektionistisk.
She has a tendency to be perfectionistic.
'Have en tendens til' means 'to have a tendency to'.
Denne tendens er bekymrende for miljøet.
This trend is worrying for the environment.
The adjective 'bekymrende' (worrying) describes the 'tendens'.
En ny tendens inden for mode er at genbruge tøj.
A new trend in fashion is to reuse clothes.
'Inden for' means 'within' or 'in the field of'.
Der er en stigende tendens til online shopping.
There is an increasing trend for online shopping.
'Stigende' means 'increasing' or 'rising'.
Denne roman afspejler en tendens i samfundet.
This novel reflects a trend in society.
'Afspejler' means 'reflects'.
Vi må vende denne negative tendens.
We must reverse this negative trend.
'Vende' means 'to turn' or 'to reverse'.
Der er en klar tendens til, at flere unge flytter til de store byer.
clear tendency; more young people; move to big cities
klar tendens = clear tendency (adjective + noun)
Vi ser en tendens til at bruge mindre kontanter og mere mobilepay.
we see a trend; use less cash; more mobile payment
en tendens til at + verb = a tendency to + verb
Han har en tendens til at udskyde vigtige opgaver.
he has a tendency; postpone important tasks
har en tendens til at = has a tendency to
Denne tendens er bekymrende for landdistrikterne.
this trend is worrying; rural areas
Denne tendens = This trend (demonstrative pronoun + noun)
Der er en global tendens mod grønnere energikilder.
there is a global trend; towards greener energy sources
global tendens = global trend (adjective + noun)
Undersøgelsen viser en voksende tendens blandt forbrugere.
the study shows; growing trend; among consumers
voksende tendens = growing trend (present participle functioning as an adjective + noun)
Moden følger ofte en bestemt tendens for en periode.
fashion often follows; certain trend; for a period
bestemt tendens = certain trend (adjective + noun)
Virksomheden har bemærket en positiv tendens i salgstallene.
the company has noticed; positive trend; in sales figures
positiv tendens = positive trend (adjective + noun)
Souvent confondu avec
While 'tendens' can mean 'fashion' in a general sense of a trend, 'mode' more specifically refers to clothing fashion.
'Tendens' refers to a broader trend or inclination, whereas 'vana' is a personal habit.
'Retning' is a more literal 'direction' (e.g., of travel), while 'tendens' is more about a general movement or development in a certain direction.
Facile à confondre
This word is often confused because its English equivalent 'tendency' doesn't always capture the nuance of 'fashion' or 'inclination' as strongly as 'tendens' does in Danish, especially when talking about trends or broader societal movements.
While 'tendency' in English can mean a general inclination, 'tendens' in Danish often implies a noticeable trend, fashion, or a dominant direction in development, rather than just a personal habit.
Der er en tendens til at spise mere plantebaseret. (There is a tendency/trend to eat more plant-based food.)
Many English speakers might first think of 'view' when they see 'udsigt', which is correct, but it also means 'outlook' or 'prospect', which can be confusing in different contexts.
'Udsigt' can refer to a physical view from a window, but it also commonly refers to the future prospects or outlook of a situation.
Der er gode udsigter til en solrig dag. (There are good prospects for a sunny day.)
This is often oversimplified in English as 'coziness'. While coziness is part of it, 'hygge' is a broader concept encompassing well-being, togetherness, and a comfortable atmosphere.
'Hygge' is more than just physical coziness; it's a feeling of contentment, warmth, and enjoying the present moment, often with others, in a comfortable setting.
Vi havde en rigtig hyggelig aften. (We had a really 'hygge'/cozy and enjoyable evening.)
This word can be confusing because it can mean 'indifferent' but also 'unimportant' or 'irrelevant', depending on the context. Learners might struggle to distinguish when it refers to a person's attitude versus the significance of something.
It describes both a state of not caring (indifferent) and the characteristic of something not mattering (unimportant).
Det er mig ligegyldigt, hvad de gør. (It's indifferent to me what they do.) / Det er en ligegyldig detalje. (It's an unimportant detail.)
This word can be tricky because it translates to 'anyway', 'still', 'nevertheless', or 'even so', and its placement and precise nuance can vary depending on the sentence structure.
It expresses a contrast or a continuation despite a previous statement, similar to 'still' or 'nevertheless' in English, but often used more flexibly.
Det regnede, men vi gik alligevel en tur. (It rained, but we went for a walk anyway/still.)
Famille de mots
Noms
Adjectifs
Comment l'utiliser
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'Tendens' is a versatile word in Danish and can refer to a general trend, a fashion, or a personal inclination. It's often used with the prepositions 'til' (to/for) or 'mod' (towards) depending on the context.
HTML:
A common mistake is confusing 'tendens' with 'trend'. While they are often interchangeable, 'tendens' can also refer to a more personal inclination or habit, whereas 'trend' is almost exclusively about a fashion or general direction.
For example, you might say 'Han har en tendens til at være doven' (He has a tendency to be lazy), but you wouldn't typically say 'Han har en trend til at være doven'.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a fashion 'trend ends' with a 'tendens' that moves in a different direction.
Association visuelle
Picture a group of people all leaning and moving in the same direction, representing a general 'tendency' or 'inclination'.
Word Web
Défi
Create a sentence using 'tendens' to describe a current event or social observation. For example, 'Der er en tendens til, at flere og flere mennesker arbejder hjemmefra.' (There is a tendency for more and more people to work from home.)
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
When discussing societal shifts or patterns.
- Der er en stigende tendens til...
- Denne tendens har været tydelig i...
- Vi ser en bekymrende tendens blandt unge.
Talking about personal habits or preferences.
- Jeg har en tendens til at...
- Han har en klar tendens til at undgå...
- Det er min tendens at sove sent.
Referring to market trends or economic patterns.
- Markedet viser en nedadgående tendens.
- Den nuværende tendens inden for investering er...
- Der er en ny tendens i forbrugeradfærd.
Describing artistic or cultural movements.
- Denne tendens inden for moderne kunst er fascinerende.
- En ny tendens i musikken.
- Det er en populær tendens i modeverdenen.
In academic or scientific discussions about observable phenomena.
- Forskningen indikerer en klar tendens.
- Der er en statistisk tendens mod...
- Disse data afspejler en generel tendens.
Amorces de conversation
"Hvilke tendenser ser du i din by lige nu?"
"Har du en tendens til at udskyde ting?"
"Hvad tror du, er den vigtigste tendens inden for teknologi i dag?"
"Er der en bestemt modetendens, du kan lide eller ikke lide?"
"Hvilken tendens inden for madlavning interesserer dig mest?"
Sujets d'écriture
Beskriv en tendens, du har bemærket i dit eget liv for nylig, og reflekter over dens årsager.
Skriv om en social tendens, der bekymrer dig, og hvorfor.
Hvordan tror du, fremtidige tendenser vil påvirke den måde, vi lever på?
Tænk på en tendens fra fortiden, der er kommet tilbage. Hvad kan vi lære af det?
Reflekter over en tendens inden for kunst eller musik, der har fanget din opmærksomhed. Hvad gør den interessant for dig?
Teste-toi 72 questions
Der er en ___ til at spise sundt i disse dage.
The sentence means 'There is a tendency to eat healthy these days.' 'Tendens' fits the meaning of an inclination or trend.
Hvilken ___ ser du i modebilledet?
The question asks 'What tendency do you see in the fashion scene?' 'Tendens' is the correct word for a fashion or trend.
Han har en ___ til at komme for sent.
The sentence means 'He has a tendency to be late.' 'Tendens' refers to an inclination or habit.
Der er en ny ___ i musikverdenen.
The sentence means 'There is a new tendency in the music world.' 'Tendens' fits the context of a new fashion or direction.
Jeg ser en ___ til at bruge mere teknologi.
The sentence means 'I see a tendency to use more technology.' 'Tendens' correctly describes an inclination or trend.
Hvilken ___ har vejret i dag?
The question asks 'What tendency does the weather have today?' 'Tendens' refers to a direction or inclination of change.
Hvilket ord betyder 'tendens'?
'Tendens' betyder en retning eller udvikling.
Hvilken sætning bruger 'tendens' korrekt?
'Tendens' beskriver en vane eller tilbøjelighed.
Hvad er en 'tendens' i mode?
I mode refererer 'tendens' til en populær stil eller retning.
En 'tendens' kan være en vane.
Ja, 'tendens' kan henvise til en vane eller tilbøjelighed.
En 'tendens' er altid dårlig.
Nej, en 'tendens' kan være neutral eller endda positiv, for eksempel en tendens til at spare penge.
Ordet 'tendens' bruges kun om tøj.
Nej, 'tendens' kan bruges i mange sammenhænge, for eksempel om vejret, økonomi eller personlige vaner.
The speaker likes to eat cake.
It's common to use mobile phones a lot.
Winter weather in Denmark.
Read this aloud:
Jeg har en tendens.
Focus: tendens
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Read this aloud:
Det er en tendens.
Focus: Det er
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Read this aloud:
En ny tendens.
Focus: ny
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This sentence means 'A tendency is towards cold weather.' We start with the indefinite article 'En' (a), followed by the subject 'tendens' (tendency). Then comes the verb 'er' (is), and the preposition 'til' (towards). Finally, we have the adjective 'koldt' (cold) and the noun 'vejr' (weather).
This sentence means 'They have a tendency to read books.' We start with the pronoun 'De' (they), followed by the verb 'har' (have). Then comes the indefinite article 'en' (a) and the noun 'tendens' (tendency). The phrase 'til at' means 'to' when followed by a verb, which here is 'læse' (read), and finally the noun 'bøger' (books).
This sentence means 'It is a new trend.' We begin with 'Det' (it), then the verb 'er' (is). Next, we have the indefinite article 'en' (a), followed by the adjective 'ny' (new) and the noun 'tendens' (tendency/trend).
Hvilket ord betyder 'trend' eller 'tendens' på dansk?
'Tendens' betyder 'trend' eller 'inclination' på dansk.
Hvilken sætning bruger ordet 'tendens' korrekt?
Her bruges 'tendens' til at beskrive en almen retning eller udvikling.
Vælg det ord, der bedst beskriver en 'tendens' i vejret.
En 'tendens' kan beskrives som en 'udvikling' eller retning, især i forbindelse med vejret.
Ordet 'tendens' bruges til at beskrive en retning eller en skik.
Ja, 'tendens' refererer til en retning, udvikling eller en almen skik.
En 'tendens' er altid noget, der er meget populært lige nu.
Ikke altid. En 'tendens' kan være en længerevarende udvikling, ikke kun noget populært lige nu.
Du kan have en 'tendens' til at gøre noget bestemt, for eksempel at drikke kaffe om morgenen.
Ja, 'tendens' kan også betyde en personlig tilbøjelighed eller vane.
Der er en klar ___ til at folk handler mere online nu.
Here, 'tendens' means a clear inclination or trend for people to shop more online.
Denne nye musikstil er en voksende ___ blandt unge.
In this context, 'tendens' refers to a growing trend or fashion among young people.
Han har en ___ til at altid komme for sent.
Here, 'tendens' means an inclination or habit of always being late.
Der er en opadgående ___ i salget af elbiler.
In this sentence, 'tendens' describes an upward trend in electric car sales.
Jeg ser en bekymrende ___ til øget skærmtid blandt børn.
Here, 'tendens' refers to a worrying inclination or trend of increased screen time among children.
Hvilken ___ ser du i den globale økonomi?
In this question, 'tendens' asks about the direction or trend observed in the global economy.
Listen for 'tendens' and understand what people are using less of.
Listen for 'tendens' and what the speaker often forgets.
Listen for 'tendens' and where it's being observed.
Read this aloud:
Der er en ny tendens i samfundet.
Focus: tendens
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Read this aloud:
Hvad er din tendens, når du er træt?
Focus: tendens
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Jeg kan se en tendens her.
Focus: tendens
Tu as dit :
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This sentence introduces the concept of a 'tendens' as something popular. The word order follows standard Danish sentence structure: Subject (En tendens) + Verb (er) + Object/Complement (noget, der er populært).
This sentence describes a general inclination towards healthier eating. The structure 'Der er en tendens til at...' is common for expressing a trend or inclination. The infinitive 'at spise' follows 'til'.
This sentence talks about fashion trends changing quickly. 'Modetendenser' (fashion trends) is the subject, followed by the verb 'skifter' (change), and then adverbs of manner and time.
Listen for the general direction young people prefer to live in.
The question is about current trends in Danish design.
Focus on what materials are trending in fashion.
Read this aloud:
Kan du beskrive en tendens, du har bemærket i samfundet?
Focus: tendens, samfundet
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Hvilke tendenser tror du vil præge fremtiden?
Focus: tendenser, præge, fremtiden
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Har du lagt mærke til en tendens til at bruge mindre kontanter?
Focus: tendens, kontanter
Tu as dit :
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This exercise helps reinforce the understanding of 'tendens' within a simple sentence structure.
This sentence order exercise helps B2 learners correctly form a sentence using 'tendens' in the context of market trends.
This exercise is designed for B2 learners to correctly arrange a longer sentence using 'tendens' in a more complex social context.
Der er en klar ___ til at folk handler mere online i disse dage.
The sentence speaks of a general inclination or direction in people's shopping habits, which 'tendens' (tendency/trend) fits best. 'Mode' refers to fashion, 'skik' to custom, and 'vane' to habit.
Virksomheden har en bekymrende ___ til at udskyde vigtige beslutninger.
Here, 'tendens' refers to a recurring inclination or pattern in the company's behavior. 'Retning' means direction, 'tilbøjelighed' is inclination, and 'forhaling' is procrastination, but 'tendens' captures the broader pattern.
Den nye arkitektoniske ___ fokuserer på bæredygtige materialer.
In this context, 'tendens' describes a current trend or movement in architecture. While 'stil' (style) and 'strømning' (current/movement) are close, 'tendens' specifically implies a prevailing direction.
Efterspørgslen efter økologiske produkter viser en opadgående ___.
'Tendens' is the most suitable word to describe an upward trend in demand. 'Kurve' (curve) and 'udvikling' (development) are related but less precise for this specific meaning, and 'retning' (direction) is too general.
Der er en klar ___ til at unge mennesker udsætter forældreskabet.
The sentence describes a general societal trend or inclination. 'Tendens' is perfect for this. 'Trend' is an English loanword, 'udvikling' is development, and 'mønster' is pattern, but 'tendens' captures the essence of a prevailing direction.
Han har en uheldig ___ til at overtænke tingene.
Here, 'tendens' refers to a recurring personal inclination or habit. While 'tilbøjelighed' (inclination) is very similar, 'tendens' is often used for a more general or noticeable pattern of behavior. 'Vane' is habit, and 'egenart' is peculiarity.
This sentence describes observing a global trend towards climate change. 'Tendens' is a noun here, modified by 'global'.
This sentence indicates new technologies influencing youth culture with a significant tendency. 'Tendens' is used to describe a characteristic of this influence.
This sentence talks about an analyst predicting a downward trend for stock prices. 'Faldende' (falling/downward) modifies 'tendens'.
/ 72 correct
Perfect score!
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
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
