Meaning
To be eloquent.
Cultural Background
The 'Højskole' tradition emphasizes 'det levende ord' (the living word), making eloquence a respected trait across all social classes. There is a historical link to the 'Ting' (assemblies), where the best speakers could influence law and justice. Danish politicians are often judged more on their 'folkelighed' (being of the people) than pure eloquence, but the best ones combine both. The tradition of 'lejlighedssange' (occasion songs) and speeches means that even non-professionals strive to have the word in their power.
Master the Reflexive
Always double-check your subject. If it's 'vi' (we), use 'vores magt'. This is the #1 way to sound like a native speaker.
The Wedding Test
If you want to impress Danes, use this phrase to compliment a wedding speech. It's the highest form of praise for a non-professional speaker.
Meaning
To be eloquent.
Master the Reflexive
Always double-check your subject. If it's 'vi' (we), use 'vores magt'. This is the #1 way to sound like a native speaker.
The Wedding Test
If you want to impress Danes, use this phrase to compliment a wedding speech. It's the highest form of praise for a non-professional speaker.
Don't Overuse
Because it's a strong compliment, using it for every minor comment can sound sarcastic. Save it for truly impressive speech.
Test Yourself
Indsæt det rigtige pronomen (min, din, sin, vores).
Jeg øver mig hver dag, fordi jeg gerne vil have ordet i ___ magt.
Da subjektet er 'Jeg', skal pronomenet være 'min'.
Hvilken sætning er korrekt?
Vælg den rigtige form af idiomet:
Idiomet kræver 'ordet' (ental) og 'magt' (ubestemt) samt det refleksive 'sin'.
I hvilken situation ville du bruge dette udtryk?
En person holder en utrolig rørende og velformuleret tale til en konfirmation.
Dette udtryk bruges som et kompliment til høj kvalitet i talen.
Færdiggør dialogen.
A: 'Hvordan gik din præsentation?' B: 'Rigtig godt! Jeg følte virkelig, at jeg...'
B taler om sig selv, så det skal være 'min magt'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeg øver mig hver dag, fordi jeg gerne vil have ordet i ___ magt.
Da subjektet er 'Jeg', skal pronomenet være 'min'.
Vælg den rigtige form af idiomet:
Idiomet kræver 'ordet' (ental) og 'magt' (ubestemt) samt det refleksive 'sin'.
En person holder en utrolig rørende og velformuleret tale til en konfirmation.
Dette udtryk bruges som et kompliment til høj kvalitet i talen.
A: 'Hvordan gik din præsentation?' B: 'Rigtig godt! Jeg følte virkelig, at jeg...'
B taler om sig selv, så det skal være 'min magt'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, but it's primarily used for spoken eloquence. For writing, you might also say 'han har en skarp pen' (he has a sharp pen).
It is always 'sin' if the subject is the owner of the power. 'Han har ordet i hans magt' would mean he has the word in *another man's* power, which makes no sense.
It is formal to neutral. You can use it in a newspaper or a speech, but also when talking to friends about someone you admire.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but you could say 'at være ordknap' (to be brief/laconic) or 'at have svært ved at udtrykke sig' (to have difficulty expressing oneself).
Related Phrases
at have talegaverne i orden
similarTo have the gift of gab / be good at speaking.
at være veltalende
synonymTo be eloquent.
at tale for sin syge mor
contrastTo argue solely for one's own interest.
at tage bladet fra munden
builds onTo speak one's mind openly.
