afvise in 30 Seconds
- To refuse to accept or agree.
- Firm rejection of offers, requests, or ideas.
- Used in professional and personal contexts.
- Stronger than simply saying 'no'.
- Core Meaning
- To refuse to accept, agree to, or grant something. This can apply to requests, offers, ideas, proposals, or even physical objects.
- Nuances
- 'Afvise' implies a firm rejection. It's stronger than simply saying 'no' or 'nej'. It suggests a deliberate decision to turn something down. The reason for the refusal can vary, from not liking something to finding it unsuitable or inappropriate.
- Contexts
- You might 'afvise' a job offer if it doesn't meet your expectations, 'afvise' a complaint if it's deemed unfounded, 'afvise' a proposal if it's not feasible, or even 'afvise' someone's advances. In a more technical context, a system might 'afvise' a login attempt if credentials are incorrect.
Vi var nødt til at afvise deres tilbud, da det var alt for lavt.
- Formal vs. Informal
- 'Afvise' is generally a neutral to formal verb. While it can be used in everyday conversation, it carries a weight that might be softened in very informal settings with phrases like 'sige nej tak' (say no thank you).
- Examples in Action
- A company might 'afvise' a job applicant. A government agency might 'afvise' a permit application. A person might 'afvise' a political ideology. A sports team might 'afvise' a player's request for a transfer. In a digital context, a website might 'afvise' an invalid credit card number.
Han forsøgte at afvise klagen som ubegrundet.
- Subject + Afvise + Object
- This is the most common structure. The subject is the one doing the refusing, and the object is what is being refused.
- Afvise + Prepositional Phrase
- Sometimes, 'afvise' is followed by a prepositional phrase that clarifies the nature or reason for the refusal.
- Passive Voice: Blive Afvist
- The passive form, 'blive afvist', means 'to be refused' or 'to be rejected'.
- Using 'Afvise' with Infinitives
- You can use 'afvise' followed by 'at' and an infinitive verb to express refusing to do something.
- Refusing an Idea or Concept
- 'Afvise' can also be used to reject abstract things like ideas, theories, or beliefs.
Bestyrelsen valgte at afvise bestyrelsesmedlemmets forslag.
Han kunne ikke afvise hende uden en forklaring.
Ansøgningen blev afvist på grund af manglende dokumentation.
Hun nægtede at afvise at tale med journalisten.
Mange videnskabsfolk afviser denne teori som værende forældet.
- Job Interviews and Applications
- In the context of employment, 'afvise' is frequently used when discussing job offers or applications. You might hear 'Virksomheden valgte at afvise min ansøgning' (The company chose to reject my application) or 'Jeg måtte afvise deres tilbud, da jeg fik et bedre et andet sted' (I had to refuse their offer as I got a better one elsewhere).
- Customer Service and Complaints
- When dealing with complaints or requests in a service setting, 'afvise' can be used to describe a denial. For example, 'Kunden var utilfreds, fordi hans klage blev afvist' (The customer was unhappy because his complaint was rejected). Businesses might have policies to 'afvise' certain types of requests.
- Politics and Public Discourse
- In political discussions, 'afvise' is common when talking about rejecting proposals, policies, or even entire ideologies. You might hear news reports like 'Oppositionen afviste regeringens nye lovforslag' (The opposition rejected the government's new bill).
- Legal and Administrative Settings
- In more formal contexts, such as legal proceedings or administrative procedures, 'afvise' is used for formal rejections. For instance, 'Dommeren valgte at afvise beviserne som irrelevante' (The judge chose to dismiss the evidence as irrelevant) or 'Ansøgningen blev afvist på grund af formelle fejl' (The application was rejected due to formal errors).
- Personal Relationships
- While perhaps less common in everyday casual chat, 'afvise' can be used in personal relationships when a firm refusal is necessary. This could be 'Hun måtte afvise hans invitation til festen' (She had to refuse his invitation to the party) if there's a specific reason.
Systemet vil automatisk afvise ugyldige login-forsøg.
- Confusing 'Afvise' with 'Nægte' (to deny/refuse)
- While both words involve not giving something, 'afvise' is generally about rejecting something offered or proposed, whereas 'nægte' often implies denying a fact, a right, or permission. For instance, you 'afvise' an offer but 'nægte' access. It's subtle, but 'afvise' is a more active rejection of something presented to you, while 'nægte' can be about withholding something or disproving a claim. Using 'afvise' when you mean 'nægte' can sound a bit off, and vice-versa.
- Using 'Afvise' for simple polite refusals
- 'Afvise' is a strong word. In casual situations where you simply want to politely decline something, like an extra piece of cake, using 'afvise' might sound too harsh or formal. Phrases like 'nej tak' (no thank you) or 'det er fint' (that's fine) are more appropriate for light refusals. 'Afvise' implies a more considered and firm rejection.
- Overusing the Passive 'Blive Afvist' without context
- While 'blive afvist' is correct for 'to be rejected', it's important to provide context. Simply saying 'Det blev afvist' (It was rejected) without explaining what 'it' is or why can be unclear. The Danish sentence structure often benefits from explicit subjects or clear contextual links.
- Confusing 'Afvise' with 'Afskedige' (to dismiss/fire)
- 'Afskedige' specifically means to terminate someone's employment. While a person might be 'afvist' (rejected) from a job application, they are 'afskediget' (fired) from a job they already have. Using 'afvise' in the context of firing someone would be incorrect and confusing.
Incorrect: Han afviste at han havde været der.
Correct: Han nægtede at han havde været der. (He denied having been there.)
Informal: Nej tak, jeg er mæt.
Too formal/harsh: Jeg afviser kagen. (I refuse the cake.)
Vague: Min idé blev afvist.
Clearer: Min idé om at ændre arbejdstiderne blev afvist af ledelsen. (My idea about changing working hours was rejected by management.)
Incorrect: Han blev afvist fra sit job.
Correct: Han blev afskediget fra sit job. (He was fired from his job.)
- Afvise vs. Nægte
- Afvise: To refuse to accept or agree to something. It's an active rejection of an offer, proposal, idea, or request. It implies something was presented and is now being turned down. Example: Han afviste tilbuddet. (He refused the offer.)
Nægte: To deny something or refuse to give something. This can mean denying a fact, denying permission, or refusing to provide something. Example: Hun nægtede at give ham adgang. (She denied him access.) or Han nægtede at have sagt det. (He denied having said it.) - Afvise vs. Afslå
- Afvise: Generally used for rejecting proposals, applications, complaints, or even people. It's a more active and sometimes stronger rejection.
Afslå: Primarily used for refusing offers, especially of a more formal or commercial nature, like a job offer, a bid, or a proposal that involves a transaction. It often implies a polite but firm refusal. Example: Vi må afslå dette tilbud. (We must decline this offer.) While 'afvise' can sometimes be used for offers, 'afslå' is more specific and common in that context. - Afvise vs. Afvise (as in 'dismiss' in a dismissive manner)
- This is more about nuance. 'Afvise' can mean to dismiss something, but it's usually in the sense of rejecting it as invalid or not worthy of consideration. It's a firm action. It's not typically used for a casual, dismissive gesture or comment, though the effect can be similar. For a more dismissive attitude, you might use phrases that describe the tone rather than a single verb.
- Afvise vs. Afvise (as in 'reject' in a very blunt way)
- In some contexts, 'afvise' can be quite blunt. If you want a softer way to refuse, consider:
Sige nej tak: To say no thank you. This is polite and common for everyday refusals of offers. Example: Vil du have mere kaffe? Nej tak, jeg har lige fået. (Do you want more coffee? No thank you, I just got some.)
Tak, men nej tak: Thank you, but no thank you. A slightly more formal polite refusal.
Det er fint, tak: That's fine, thank you. Used when you don't need or want something offered. - Afvise vs. Afvise (as in 'reject' a person)
- When rejecting a person's advances or interest, 'afvise' is appropriate. However, if you mean to end a relationship, you might use 'slå op' (break up) or 'forlade' (leave). Han prøvede at afvise hende, men hun blev ved. (He tried to reject her, but she persisted.)
Comparison table:
Afvise: Reject (application, proposal, idea, person)
Afslå: Decline (offer, bid)
Nægte: Deny (fact, permission), Refuse (to give)
Fun Fact
The verb 'vise' itself has roots in Old Norse 'vísa', meaning 'to show, point out'. The prefix 'af-' is common in many Germanic languages and conveys separation or removal. Together, they create a vivid image of actively directing something or someone away from oneself or a particular place.
Pronunciation Guide
- Mispronouncing the initial 'a' sound as a long 'ah'.
- Putting stress on the first syllable.
- Not pronouncing the final 'e' sound clearly.
- Confusing the 'v' sound with a 'w' sound.
Examples by Level
Nej tak.
No thank you.
Simple negation.
Ikke nu.
Not now.
Simple negation with time.
Jeg vil ikke.
I don't want to.
Negation with 'vil' (want).
Det er nej.
It's no.
Direct refusal.
Du kan ikke få det.
You cannot have it.
Modal verb 'kan' (can) with negation.
Hun sagde nej.
She said no.
Past tense of 'sige' (say) with negation.
Han vil ikke lege.
He doesn't want to play.
Negation with 'vil' (want) for third person.
Vi siger nej til det.
We say no to that.
Plural subject with 'sige nej'.
Jeg må afvise din invitation.
I must refuse your invitation.
Modal verb 'må' (must) with 'afvise'.
De afviste vores forslag.
They rejected our proposal.
Past tense of 'afvise'.
Kan du afvise denne pakke?
Can you refuse this package?
Question form with 'afvise'.
Han kunne ikke afvise hende.
He could not refuse her.
Modal verb 'kunne' (could) with negation and 'afvise'.
Vi må afvise ansøgningen.
We must reject the application.
Modal verb 'må' (must) with 'afvise' for applications.
De afviste klagen.
They rejected the complaint.
Past tense of 'afvise' for complaints.
Vil du afvise tilbuddet?
Will you refuse the offer?
Future tense question with 'afvise'.
Det er svært at afvise.
It is difficult to refuse.
Infinitive with 'svært at'.
Bestyrelsen valgte at afvise bestyrelsesmedlemmets forslag.
The board chose to reject the board member's proposal.
'Valgte at' + infinitive structure.
Vi kan ikke afvise, at der er problemer.
We cannot deny that there are problems.
'Afvise' used with a subordinate clause starting with 'at'.
Han forsøgte at afvise hendes bekymringer.
He tried to dismiss her concerns.
Reflexive verb 'forsøgte at' + infinitive.
Ansøgningen blev afvist på grund af manglende dokumentation.
The application was rejected due to missing documentation.
Passive voice 'blev afvist' with causal phrase.
Hun måtte afvise sin egen chef.
She had to refuse her own boss.
Modal verb 'måtte' (had to) with 'afvise'.
Myndighederne afviste at give tilladelse.
The authorities refused to grant permission.
'Afvise at' + infinitive verb.
Det er umuligt at afvise sandheden.
It is impossible to deny the truth.
Adjective + 'at' + infinitive.
De afviste hans argumentation som værende svag.
They rejected his argumentation as being weak.
'Afvise' + object + 'som værende' + adjective.
Virksomheden valgte at afvise det seneste bud fra konkurrenten.
The company chose to reject the latest bid from the competitor.
Complex sentence with a direct object and prepositional phrase.
Det er utænkeligt, at de vil afvise et sådant tilbud.
It is unthinkable that they will reject such an offer.
Subordinate clause introduced by 'at'.
Han forsøgte forgæves at afvise anklagerne.
He tried in vain to refute the accusations.
Adverb 'forgæves' (in vain) modifying the infinitive phrase.
Efter lang tids overvejelse blev ansøgningen endelig afvist.
After a long period of consideration, the application was finally rejected.
Passive voice with temporal and adverbial modifiers.
Hun var fast besluttet på at afvise enhver form for pres.
She was determined to reject any form of pressure.
Adjective phrase 'fast besluttet på at' + infinitive.
Systemet vil automatisk afvise ugyldige login-forsøg.
The system will automatically reject invalid login attempts.
Future tense with adverb 'automatisk'.
Det er uacceptabelt at afvise en kunde uden en forklaring.
It is unacceptable to reject a customer without an explanation.
Adjective + infinitive phrase as subject.
Forskere afviser ofte nye teorier, indtil de er grundigt bevist.
Researchers often reject new theories until they are thoroughly proven.
Frequency adverb 'ofte' and temporal clause 'indtil'.
Den politiske bevægelse valgte at afvise ethvert kompromis med oppositionen.
The political movement chose to reject any compromise with the opposition.
Use of 'ethvert' (any/every) for emphasis.
Det er en udbredt misforståelse at afvise videnskabelige fremskridt uden nærmere undersøgelse.
It is a widespread misunderstanding to reject scientific progress without further investigation.
Complex subject phrase with an infinitive clause.
Trods gentagne forsøg formåede han ikke at afvise anmodningen fra sine overordnede.
Despite repeated attempts, he failed to reject the request from his superiors.
Prepositional phrase 'Trods gentagne forsøg' and verb 'formåede ikke'.
Hans analyse blev afvist af fagfæller, der fandt den mangelfuld.
His analysis was rejected by peers who found it deficient.
Passive voice with a relative clause explaining the reason for rejection.
Hun var principfast og ville principielt afvise ethvert forslag, der stred mod hendes overbevisning.
She was principled and would, in principle, reject any proposal that went against her convictions.
Adverbs 'principfast' and 'principielt' for emphasis.
Det er en farlig tendens at afvise ekspertudsagn på baggrund af personlige meninger.
It is a dangerous tendency to reject expert testimony based on personal opinions.
Noun phrase with infinitive clause and prepositional phrase.
Domstolen havde ingen anden udvej end at afvise sagen på grund af processuelle fejl.
The court had no other option but to dismiss the case due to procedural errors.
Idiomatic expression 'ingen anden udvej end at' + infinitive.
Selvom forslaget var innovativt, valgte man at afvise det grundet budgetmæssige begrænsninger.
Although the proposal was innovative, it was rejected due to budgetary constraints.
Subordinate clause with 'Selvom' and passive voice.
Den etablerede videnskab var tilbøjelig til at afvise radikalt nye paradigmer, før de opnåede bred accept.
Established science was prone to rejecting radically new paradigms before they achieved broad acceptance.
Sophisticated vocabulary ('etablerede', 'tilbøjelig', 'radikalt', 'paradigmer') and complex sentence structure.
Det er en beklagelig, men ofte uundgåelig konsekvens af bureaukratiet, at oprigtige ansøgninger afvises på grund af småfejl.
It is a regrettable, but often unavoidable consequence of bureaucracy that sincere applications are rejected due to minor errors.
Abstract nouns and nuanced phrasing ('beklagelig', 'uundgåelig', 'oprigtige', 'småfejl').
Han formåede med sin retorik at afvise kritikken og vende opinionen til sin fordel.
With his rhetoric, he managed to dismiss the criticism and turn public opinion in his favor.
Figurative language ('formåede med sin retorik') and idiomatic expression ('vende opinionen til sin fordel').
Den diplomatiske note afviste utvetydigt enhver påstand om involvering i affæren.
The diplomatic note unequivocally rejected any claim of involvement in the affair.
Precise legal/diplomatic terminology ('diplomatiske note', 'utvetydigt', 'påstand', 'affæren').
Man kan ikke uden videre afvise eksistensen af fænomener, der endnu ikke er fuldt ud forstået af videnskaben.
One cannot simply dismiss the existence of phenomena not yet fully understood by science.
Advanced phrasing ('uden videre', 'eksistensen af fænomener', 'fuldt ud forstået').
Efter en dybdegående analyse stod det klart, at forslaget måtte afvises af hensyn til projektets integritet.
After an in-depth analysis, it became clear that the proposal had to be rejected for the sake of the project's integrity.
Formal vocabulary ('dybdegående analyse', 'integritet') and purpose clause ('af hensyn til').
Historiske begivenheder viser med al tydelighed, hvor farligt det er at afvise fundamentale principper for politisk stabilitet.
Historical events clearly demonstrate how dangerous it is to reject fundamental principles of political stability.
Abstract concepts and strong concluding statements ('med al tydelighed', 'fundamentale principper').
Selvom han var kendt for sin kompromisløshed, afviste han alligevel at underskrive aftalen, da den stred mod hans personlige etik.
Although he was known for his uncompromising nature, he nevertheless refused to sign the agreement, as it went against his personal ethics.
Complex subordinate clause, contrasting adverbs ('alligevel'), and ethical considerations.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To reject immediately, without hesitation.
Han var så utilfreds, at han afviste tilbuddet med det samme.
— To be rejected without any valid reason.
Det føltes uretfærdigt at blive afvist uden grund.
— To reject something by characterizing it as something else (e.g., nonsense, irrelevant).
Hun afviste hans argumenter som værende upassende for situationen.
— To refuse to consider any possibility of something happening.
Regeringen afviste enhver mulighed for at hæve skatterne.
— To reject something or someone with a smile, perhaps to soften the blow or to be politely dismissive.
Hun afviste hans kompliment med et venligt smil.
— To reject flatly, completely, and without any room for discussion.
De afviste hans forslag blankt.
— To refuse a request.
Biblioteket måtte afvise hendes anmodning om at låne sjældne bøger.
— To reject a claim or demand.
Forsikringsselskabet afviste hans krav om erstatning.
— To reject a theory or hypothesis.
Mange videnskabsfolk afviste den nye teori i starten.
— To be rejected or ostracized by society.
Han følte sig som en, der var blevet afvist af samfundet.
Idioms & Expressions
— To reject something casually or indifferently, as if it's not important enough to warrant a strong reaction.
Han afviste hendes bekymringer med et skuldertræk, hvilket irriterede hende.
Informal— To dismiss an idea or plan as unrealistic or impossible to achieve, like a utopia.
Hans drøm om en verden uden krig blev afvist som utopi af de fleste politikere.
Figurative/Formal— To turn down a chance or opportunity, often implying a missed benefit.
Ved at afvise en potentiel mulighed for samarbejde, mistede virksomheden markedsandele.
Business/Formal— To refuse something very firmly and decisively, leaving no room for negotiation.
Direktøren afviste med et fast 'nej', at firmaet ville gå konkurs.
Emphatic— A slightly more formal way to say you reject a specific concept or notion.
Det er vigtigt ikke at afvise en vis idé blot, fordi den lyder fremmed.
Nuanced— To reject something before it has even been properly presented or considered.
Det er ikke konstruktivt at afvise på forhånd, før man har hørt hele argumentet.
Constructive criticism— Similar to 'med et fast nej', but emphasizes the harshness of the refusal.
Han afviste med et hårdt 'nej' ethvert forsøg på at overtale ham.
Emphatic/Harsh— To actively push away or refuse to consider a particular thought.
Hun forsøgte at afvise tanken om, at hun kunne have taget fejl.
Psychological/Personal— In a legal or formal context, to dismiss or reject an appeal.
Højesteret afviste appelantenens sag.
Legal/Formal— To refuse an invitation, expressing regret.
Jeg må desværre afvise din invitation med beklagelse.
Polite/FormalWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine someone showing a visitor the door ('vise' = show) and saying 'af' (away) to them. They are showing them away, thus rejecting them. 'Af-vise' means to show away, to reject.
Visual Association
Picture a bouncer at a club, holding up a hand to 'show away' (afvise) someone who isn't allowed in. The hand gesture is a visual 'no'.
Word Origin
The word 'afvise' is a compound word formed from the prefix 'af-' (off, away) and the verb 'vise' (to show, to point). This etymological breakdown suggests an original meaning of 'to show away' or 'to point away', which logically extends to the concept of rejecting or turning something away.
Original meaning: To show away, to point away, to turn aside.
GermanicSummary
Afvise is a Danish verb meaning to refuse to accept or agree to something. It's a firm rejection, often used for offers, applications, proposals, or complaints. Think of it as a decisive 'no'. Example: Vi må afvise deres tilbud. (We must reject their offer.)
- To refuse to accept or agree.
- Firm rejection of offers, requests, or ideas.
- Used in professional and personal contexts.
- Stronger than simply saying 'no'.
Related Content
More general words
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
