When discussing time in Danish, the word ur is a versatile noun. It can refer to a clock of any kind, whether it's a wall clock (vægur), a wristwatch (armbåndsur), or even a digital clock. Pay attention to the context to understand which type of time-measuring device is being discussed. It's a common and essential word for everyday Danish conversations.
§ Danish word 'ur' explained
- Word
- ur
- Type
- noun (et-word)
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- a device for measuring time, like a clock or a watch.
§ How to use 'ur' in a sentence
The word 'ur' is a common Danish noun that refers to any device used for telling time. This includes both wall clocks and wristwatches. It's an 'et-word' (neuter gender), so it takes the article 'et' in the indefinite singular form and 'uret' in the definite singular form. In the plural, it's 'ure' (indefinite) and 'urene' (definite).
Understanding its gender is important because it affects how you use adjectives with it and how you form its definite and plural forms. Just like in English, 'ur' can be the subject or object of a sentence, and you'll often see it with prepositions indicating location or possession.
§ Basic sentences with 'ur'
Here are some simple examples to show you how 'ur' is used:
Jeg har et nyt ur.
- Hint
- I have a new watch.
Hvor er dit ur?
- Hint
- Where is your watch?
§ Using 'ur' with prepositions
Prepositions are small but crucial words that show relationships between words in a sentence. When using 'ur', you'll often encounter prepositions like 'på' (on), 'ved' (by/at), or 'i' (in). The choice of preposition depends on the context.
- På uret: This literally means 'on the clock/watch' and is often used to talk about what time it is according to the clock.
- Ved uret: This means 'by the clock' and implies proximity to a clock.
- I uret: This means 'in the clock' and could refer to something physically inside the clock mechanism, though less common in everyday speech.
Hvad er klokken på uret?
- Hint
- What time is it on the clock?
Han kiggede på sit ur.
- Hint
- He looked at his watch.
Der hænger et stort ur på væggen.
- Hint
- There hangs a large clock on the wall.
§ Plural forms of 'ur'
When you're talking about more than one clock or watch, you need to use the plural forms:
- Indefinite plural: ure (e.g., mange ure - many watches/clocks)
- Definite plural: urene (e.g., urene er gamle - the watches/clocks are old)
Der er mange ure i butikken.
- Hint
- There are many watches/clocks in the shop.
Urene viser alle forskellig tid.
- Hint
- The watches/clocks all show different times.
§ Common phrases with 'ur'
Here are some useful phrases where 'ur' appears:
- Stille uret: To set the clock/watch.
- Trække uret op: To wind up the clock/watch (for mechanical ones).
- Digitale ure: Digital watches/clocks.
- Vækkeur: Alarm clock. (This is a compound word, but 'ur' is at its root!)
Jeg skal stille mit ur om til sommertid.
- Hint
- I need to set my watch for daylight saving time.
Mit vækkeur
- Hint
- My alarm clock rings at six o'clock.
By practicing these examples, you'll get a good feel for how 'ur' functions in Danish sentences. Keep an eye out for it in texts and conversations, and try to use it yourself whenever you talk about timepieces.
How Formal Is It?
"Præcisionen af tidsmåleren er afgørende for videnskabelige eksperimenter."
"Hvad er klokken? Jeg har ikke mit ur på."
"Har du klokken? Jeg skal mødes med en ven om ti minutter."
"Se, uret siger, at det er sengetid!"
"Tidsholderen er gået i stå, så vi er sent på den."
Exemples par niveau
Hvad er klokken? Jeg har ikke et ur.
What is the time? I do not have a watch.
ikke: not
Mit ur er gået i stå.
My watch has stopped.
gået i stå: stopped (literally 'gone to a standstill')
Kan du se, hvad uret viser?
Can you see what the clock shows?
hvad uret viser: what the clock shows
Der er et stort ur på væggen.
There is a big clock on the wall.
på væggen: on the wall
Jeg har købt et nyt ur.
I have bought a new watch.
købt: bought (past participle of købe)
Uret er fra min bedstefar.
The watch is from my grandfather.
fra: from
Vækkeuret ringede klokken syv.
The alarm clock rang at seven o'clock.
vækkeuret: the alarm clock; ringede: rang (past tense of ringe)
Har du et digitalt ur?
Do you have a digital watch?
digitalt: digital (neuter form to agree with ur)
Det gamle tårnur slog tolv, og dets klang fyldte den stille landsby med en højtidelig genlyd.
The old tower clock struck twelve, and its sound filled the quiet village with a solemn echo.
Selvom det digitale ur på min telefon er mere præcist, foretrækker jeg stadig charmen ved et analogt armbåndsur.
Although the digital clock on my phone is more precise, I still prefer the charm of an analog wristwatch.
Uret på væggen tikkede utålmodigt, og hvert sekund føltes som et minut, mens vi ventede på nyhederne.
The clock on the wall ticked impatiently, and every second felt like a minute, as we waited for the news.
Efter en lang og anstrengende rejse føltes det som om uret havde stået stille i årtier, da vi endelig nåede hjem.
After a long and arduous journey, it felt as if time had stood still for decades when we finally reached home.
For at sikre at ingen kom for sent, besluttede vi at synkronisere alle ure i huset med atomuret.
To ensure no one was late, we decided to synchronize all clocks in the house with the atomic clock.
Hendes vintage lommeur, et arvestykke fra hendes bedstefar, var et vidnesbyrd om en svunden tid og mesterligt håndværk.
Her vintage pocket watch, a heirloom from her grandfather, was a testament to a bygone era and masterful craftsmanship.
Under den intense eksamen følte eleverne, hvordan uret langsomt tikkede mod deadline, og presset steg for hvert minut.
During the intense exam, the students felt how the clock slowly ticked towards the deadline, and the pressure increased with every minute.
Astronomen studerede nøje himlens bevægelser, og hans præcise ur var afgørende for at beregne planeternes positioner.
The astronomer carefully studied the movements of the sky, and his precise clock was crucial for calculating the planets' positions.
Souvent confondu avec
While 'timer' also relates to time, 'ur' is the device itself. 'En timer' is often a specific countdown device or a period of 60 minutes.
Both 'ur' and 'klokke' can mean clock, but 'klokke' often refers to a bell or a larger, more public clock, like a church bell, whereas 'ur' is more general for any timepiece.
'Ur' is the physical object that measures time, whereas 'tid' is the abstract concept of time itself.
Facile à confondre
Many learners confuse 'uret' (the clock/watch) with the verb 'at uret' (to be restless/fidgety), even though the contexts are usually very different.
'Uret' as a noun refers to the time-telling device. 'At uret' is a verb describing a state of restlessness.
Jeg har glemt uret. (I have forgotten the watch.) Han uret i stolen. (He fidgeted in the chair.)
This word sounds similar to 'ur' but has a completely different meaning, referring to something unclean or impure.
'Ur' is a timepiece. 'Uren' means unclean or dirty.
Vandet er urent. (The water is impure.)
Similar to 'uren', learners might mistakenly connect 'urenhed' with 'ur' due to sound, despite its meaning of impurity.
'Ur' is a time device. 'Urenhed' is a noun meaning impurity or dirtiness.
Der var en urenhed i luften. (There was an impurity in the air.)
While 'urkasse' directly relates to 'ur', some learners might overthink it, expecting a more complex meaning than simply 'watch case' or 'clock case'.
'Ur' is the device itself. 'Urkasse' is the case that holds the clock or watch mechanism.
Han åbnede urkassen. (He opened the watch case.)
The English word 'URL' (Uniform Resource Locator) is often pronounced similarly to 'ur' by Danish speakers, which can cause confusion for English learners.
'Ur' is a timepiece in Danish. 'URL' is an English acronym for a web address.
Hvad er URL'en til hjemmesiden? (What is the URL for the website?) Jeg kiggede på uret. (I looked at the clock.)
Famille de mots
Noms
Comment l'utiliser
The word ur is a common noun in Danish and refers to any device that measures time, such as a clock or a watch. It is a neuter noun, so it takes the indefinite article et (et ur) and the definite article uret (the clock/watch).
A common mistake for English speakers is to confuse ur with the English word 'hour'. In Danish, 'hour' is time. Another mistake is to forget that it's a neuter noun and use the common gender article en instead of et.
Teste-toi 48 questions
Which of these is a synonym for 'ur' in the context of telling time?
'Klokke' can also refer to a clock, similar to 'ur'.
If you ask 'Hvad er klokken ifølge dit ur?', what are you asking about?
The phrase asks what time it is according to the 'ur'.
Which sentence correctly uses 'ur'?
'Ur' is typically worn on the arm as a watch.
An 'ur' is used to measure distance.
An 'ur' is a device for measuring time, not distance.
You can wear an 'ur' on your wrist.
A watch ('ur') is commonly worn on the wrist.
A 'ur' can be a wall clock.
Yes, 'ur' can refer to both a wrist watch and a wall clock.
Mit nye ___ har mange funktioner.
Here, 'ur' (watch/clock) fits the context of 'my new ... has many functions', implying a device with features.
Hvad er klokken? Jeg har ikke et ___.
To know the time, one would typically look at an 'ur' (watch/clock).
Jeg købte et smukt væg___ til min stue.
A 'vægur' is a wall clock, which fits perfectly in a living room.
Alarmen på mit ___ ringede kl. 7.
An alarm is typically set on a 'ur' (clock/watch) to wake someone up.
Det gamle ___ i kirken slår timerne.
Churches often have a large 'ur' (clock) that chimes the hours.
Jeg glemte mit ___ derhjemme, så jeg ved ikke, hvad klokken er.
If you forget your 'ur' (watch), you won't know the time.
Vælg den sætning, hvor 'ur' bruges korrekt:
'Ur' refererer til et instrument for tid, som man kan bære på armen (et armbåndsur).
Hvilket ord kan erstatte 'ur' i sætningen: 'Hvad er klokken på dit ___?'
Selvom 'telefon' ikke er et traditionelt ur, kan man se klokken på en telefon, ligesom man kan på et ur.
Hvis et ur er 'gået i stå', hvad betyder det så?
'Gået i stå' betyder, at det er stoppet med at fungere.
Et 'ur' bruges til at måle temperatur.
Et ur bruges til at måle tid, ikke temperatur. Et termometer måler temperatur.
Man kan have et 'ur' på væggen.
Et vægur er et almindeligt eksempel på et ur, der hænger på væggen.
Ordet 'ur' er altid flertal på dansk.
'Ur' er ental. Flertal er 'ure'.
Did you remember to set the clock back an hour?
My alarm clock didn't ring this morning, so I was late.
Which type of clock do you prefer: a digital or an analog one?
Read this aloud:
Min bedstefar har et gammelt lommeur, som han er meget stolt af.
Focus: lommeur
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Jeg skal have repareret mit armbåndsur; det går for langsomt.
Focus: armbåndsur
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Mange offentlige bygninger har et stort tårnur, der viser tiden.
Focus: tårnur
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses 'ur' to refer to a timepiece?
The sentence 'Hun købte et nyt ur til at have på armen' correctly uses 'ur' in the context of a watch worn on the arm, which is a type of timepiece.
In which context would 'ur' most likely refer to a clock tower?
'Byens gamle ur slår hver time' implies a large, public clock, such as a clock tower, which strikes the hour.
If someone says 'Mit ur går ikke længere', what do they mean?
'Mit ur går ikke længere' literally means 'My watch no longer goes', which in Danish idiom means it's not functioning.
The phrase 'at slå uret' means to hit the clock.
No, 'at slå uret' means 'to strike the hour' or 'for the clock to strike,' not to physically hit it.
If you ask 'Hvad er klokken ifølge dit ur?', you are asking about the time displayed on someone's timepiece.
Yes, this is a direct way to inquire about the current time as shown on their watch or clock.
A 'lommeur' is a type of wall clock.
A 'lommeur' is a pocket watch, not a wall clock. 'Lomme' means 'pocket'.
Det gamle tårns ___ havde stået stille i årtier, en tavs vidne til tidens gang.
In this context, 'værk' refers to the internal mechanism of a clock or watch, which would cease to function if the clock stopped.
Selvom alle computere i lokalet viste forskellige klokkeslæt, var det eneste pålidelige tidsmåler vores atom-___, der altid var præcist til millisekundet.
The term 'atom-ur' specifically refers to an atomic clock, highlighting its precision as a time-measuring device.
Han justerede omhyggeligt sit lomme___, der havde arvet fra sin bedstefar, til tårnets klokkeslæt for at sikre, at det var præcist.
'Lommeur' is the Danish word for a pocket watch, a classic time-measuring device.
Tidsmaskinens mest avancerede komponent var et kvantemekanisk ___, der kunne måle tidens strøm med uhyggelig nøjagtighed.
Here, 'kvantemekanisk ur' refers to a quantum mechanical clock, indicating a sophisticated time-measuring instrument.
Mens den gamle mølle stod stille, og vandhjulet ikke længere drejede, forblev sol-___ på væggen den eneste indikator for tidens ubønhørlige gang.
'Solur' translates to sundial, which is a traditional device for measuring time using the sun's position.
Uden adgang til et præcist ___, måtte de navigere gennem ørkenen udelukkende ved at følge stjernernes bevægelse på nattehimlen.
In this context, 'ur' implies a reliable time-measuring device crucial for navigation.
Focus on the time and the type of clock.
Listen for what kind of 'ur' it is and its quality.
The speaker needs to wake up early.
Read this aloud:
Mit ur er gået i stå, så jeg ved ikke, hvad klokken er.
Focus: gået i stå
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Jeg skal have repareret mit ur, det taber et par minutter om dagen.
Focus: repareret
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Et digitalt ur viser ofte tiden med tal.
Focus: digitalt ur
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you are an antique dealer describing a very old and valuable 'ur'. Write a short paragraph in Danish, highlighting its historical significance and unique features.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Dette usædvanligt sjældne lommeur, et ægte kunstværk fra det 18. århundrede, repræsenterer en vigtig del af urmageriets historie. Dets indviklede mekanisme og håndlavede detaljer gør det til en uvurderlig genstand for enhver samler. Urets værdi ligger ikke kun i dets alder, men også i dets enestående bevaringstilstand, hvilket vidner om dets tidligere ejeres omhu og agtelse.
You are writing a short story. A character discovers an 'ur' that has stopped working. Describe the character's thoughts and feelings about the broken 'ur' and what it symbolizes to them.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hun holdt det gamle ur i sin hånd, viserne stivnet på et udefinerbart tidspunkt. Det plejede at tikke uophørligt, et konstant påmindelse om tidens gang, men nu var det tavst. For hende symboliserede det ikke blot et brudt stykke maskineri, men et tabt øjeblik, en fortid der ikke længere bevægede sig fremad. Hvert ridse i glasset fortalte en historie, og nu var historien sat på pause, ligesom hendes egne drømme.
Write a formal email in Danish to a watchmaker, describing a complex problem with your 'ur' and requesting a detailed repair estimate. Use precise terminology.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Kære urmager, Jeg skriver for at anmode om et detaljeret reparationstilbud for mit Patek Philippe lommeur, model Ref. 570, fra 1948. Uret udviser en signifikant afvigelse i tidsmålingen, og gangreserven er drastisk reduceret. Jeg mistænker, at ankergangen eller balancen kan være slidt, eller at der er behov for en fuld servicering af urværket. Jeg beder om en grundig vurdering af kaliberen og en estimeret tidsplan samt omkostningsanalyse for den nødvendige reparation. Jeg ser frem til Deres snarlige tilbagemelding.
Hvad symboliserede Rådhusets 'ur' i det gamle København ifølge teksten?
Read this passage:
I det gamle København var byens 'ur' på Rådhuset ikke blot et instrument til tidsmåling, men et symbol på samfundets orden og præcision. Borgerne regulerede deres daglige liv efter dets klokkespil, og dets nøjagtighed blev opretholdt med omhu af byens mest respekterede urmager. Eventuelle fejl i dets funktion blev set som en forstyrrelse af den offentlige ro, og reparationer blev udført med største hast og ekspertise.
Hvad symboliserede Rådhusets 'ur' i det gamle København ifølge teksten?
Teksten nævner specifikt, at uret var 'et symbol på samfundets orden og præcision'.
Teksten nævner specifikt, at uret var 'et symbol på samfundets orden og præcision'.
Hvilken konsekvens har opdagelsen af dette 16. århundredes 'ur' haft for historikere?
Read this passage:
Forskere har opdaget et urværk fra det 16. århundrede, der er så komplekst, at det antyder en uventet grad af teknologisk raffinement i renæssancen. Dette 'ur' inkorporerer himmelmekanik og astronomiske beregninger, langt ud over hvad man tidligere troede muligt for den periode. Fundet har tvunget historikere til at genoverveje den daværende videnskabelige forståelse og den praktiske anvendelse af tidmålingsinstrumenter.
Hvilken konsekvens har opdagelsen af dette 16. århundredes 'ur' haft for historikere?
Teksten siger, at fundet 'har tvunget historikere til at genoverveje den daværende videnskabelige forståelse'.
Teksten siger, at fundet 'har tvunget historikere til at genoverveje den daværende videnskabelige forståelse'.
Hvad er 'urets' primære funktion i science fiction-romanen 'Tidens Fange'?
Read this passage:
I science fiction-romanen 'Tidens Fange' er 'uret' ikke blot et redskab til at måle minutter, men en portal til alternative dimensioner. Hvert tik fra dette mystiske 'ur' kan åbne en ny virkelighed, og hovedpersonen må lære at mestre dets kraft for at redde sin egen tidslinje. Denne unikke fortolkning af et 'ur' udfordrer vores konventionelle opfattelse af tid og dens kontrol.
Hvad er 'urets' primære funktion i science fiction-romanen 'Tidens Fange'?
Passagen angiver klart, at 'uret' er 'en portal til alternative dimensioner'.
Passagen angiver klart, at 'uret' er 'en portal til alternative dimensioner'.
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
