politiker in 30 Sekunden
- A person professionally involved in government and law-making.
- Can refer to local, regional, or national elected officials in Denmark.
- Follows common gender rules (en politiker) and has specific plural forms.
- Central to Danish 'velfærdsstat' and 'konsensusdemokrati' discussions.
The Danish word politiker refers to a person who is professionally involved in politics, typically as an elected official or a candidate for office. In the context of the Danish 'velfærdsstat' (welfare state), a politiker is often viewed as a public servant tasked with managing the collective resources of the community. Unlike in some other cultures where the term might carry a heavy weight of cynicism, in Denmark, there is a relatively high level of 'tillid' (trust) between the citizenry and the politiker, although this varies depending on the current political climate.
- The National Level
- At the national level, a politiker serves in 'Folketinget', the Danish Parliament. These individuals are responsible for creating laws that affect the entire kingdom, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. You will hear them discussed in news segments like 'TV2 News' or 'DR Nyheder' daily.
- The Local Level
- A 'lokalpolitiker' works in the 'kommune' (municipality) or 'region'. These politicians deal with immediate issues like local schools, road maintenance, and regional hospitals. They are often more accessible to the average person.
- The Professional Politician
- The term 'levebrødspolitiker' is a specific, somewhat derogatory term used to describe a politiker who has never had a job outside of politics, suggesting they are out of touch with 'virkeligheden' (reality).
Mange mener, at en dygtig politiker skal kunne lytte til folket, før der tages store beslutninger.
In Danish discourse, you will frequently encounter the word in debates regarding 'skattelettelser' (tax cuts) or 'velfærd' (welfare). A politiker is expected to participate in 'debatter' and 'samråd'. The Danish political system is characterized by 'konsensusdemokrati', meaning a politiker must be very good at 'forhandling' (negotiation) with other parties. This makes the role of a politiker in Denmark quite different from those in winner-take-all systems.
Den unge politiker vandt mange stemmer ved at fokusere på klimaforandringer.
Hver eneste politiker i salen var tavs under statsministerens tale.
Vi har brug for en politiker, der tør tage upopulære beslutninger for landets skyld.
Furthermore, the word is used in compound nouns like 'toppolitiker' (top politician) or 'partipolitiker' (party politician). When discussing international relations, you might refer to a 'udenrigspolitiker' (foreign policy politician). The versatility of the word allows it to fit into various levels of formality, from casual coffee-table talk about 'de dumme politikere' (those stupid politicians) to academic political science discussions about 'politikerens rolle i magtens centrum' (the politician's role in the center of power).
Using the word politiker correctly requires understanding its declension and its position in the sentence. As a noun, it follows standard Danish syntax rules. It can act as a subject, an object, or part of a prepositional phrase. Because it refers to a profession, in Danish, we often omit the indefinite article 'en' when stating someone's job directly after the verb 'at være' (to be), e.g., 'Han er politiker' (He is a politician).
- Singular vs. Plural
- 'En politiker' (a politician) becomes 'politikere' (politicians) in the indefinite plural. Note the extra '-e' at the end. 'Politikeren' (the politician) becomes 'politikerne' (the politicians) in the definite plural.
- Genitive Case
- To show possession, simply add an 's': 'Politikerens tale' (The politician's speech) or 'Politikernes ansvar' (The politicians' responsibility).
Som politiker skal man være forberedt på hård kritik fra medierne.
When describing a politician, adjectives are placed before the noun and must agree in gender and number. For example: 'En dygtig politiker' (A skilled politician), 'Den dygtige politiker' (The skilled politician), or 'Dygtige politikere' (Skilled politicians). You will often see the word paired with verbs like 'at vælge' (to elect), 'at stemme på' (to vote for), and 'at kritisere' (to criticize).
Hvilken politiker har haft den største indflydelse på dansk historie?
In more complex sentences, 'politiker' often appears in relative clauses. For instance: 'Den politiker, som jeg mødte i går, var meget venlig' (The politician whom I met yesterday was very friendly). It is also common in passive constructions: 'Politikeren blev interviewet af en journalist' (The politician was interviewed by a journalist). Understanding these patterns is key to reaching B1 or B2 proficiency in Danish.
The word politiker is ubiquitous in Danish life, reflecting the nation's high engagement with civic duties. You will hear it most frequently in news broadcasts, podcasts, and daily conversations about the state of the country. Denmark has a tradition of 'højskole' and public debate, where the actions of a politiker are constantly scrutinized and discussed in a polite but firm manner.
- Television and Radio
- In programs like 'Debatten' on DR2, you will see several politikere arguing over current events. The moderators often introduce them by their title and party, such as 'Socialdemokratisk politiker' or 'Venstre-politiker'.
- The Dinner Table
- Danes are not shy about discussing politics during 'frokost' (lunch) or 'aftensmad' (dinner). You might hear someone say, 'Jeg stoler ikke på den politiker' (I don't trust that politician).
I nyhederne talte en politiker om de nye restriktioner.
During election periods ('valgkamp'), the word is everywhere. Posters with the faces of various politikere line the streets. You will hear phrases like 'at føre valgkamp' (to campaign) and 'at møde vælgerne' (to meet the voters). Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook are also hubs where a politiker will share their 'mærkesager' (key issues) and engage with the public.
Mange politikere bruger sociale medier til at kommunikere direkte med borgerne.
In schools and universities, students learn about 'politikerens' role in the 'magtens tredeling' (tripartite division of power). If you visit 'Folkemødet' on Bornholm, you will literally walk among hundreds of politikere who are there to debate and mingle with the public in an informal setting. This proximity is a hallmark of Danish political culture.
Learning to use politiker involves avoiding a few common pitfalls that English speakers often encounter. One of the most frequent errors relates to the use of articles when talking about professions.
- The Article Omission
- In English, we say 'He is A politician.' In Danish, you should say 'Han er politiker.' Adding the 'en' ('Han er en politiker') is grammatically possible but often implies you are describing him as a type of politician (e.g., 'Han er en god politiker') rather than just stating his job.
- Pluralization Confusion
- Don't forget the 'e' in 'politikere'. Some learners mistakenly say 'politikers' following English rules. In Danish, the '-s' is only for the genitive (possession).
Fejl: Han er en politiker. Korrekt: Han er politiker.
Another mistake is confusing politiker (the person) with politik (the field or the policy). You cannot say 'Jeg kan lide denne politiker' if you mean 'I like this policy'. For the policy, you must use 'politik' or 'målsætning'. Conversely, you can't say 'Regeringen har en ny politiker' if you mean 'The government has a new policy'.
Vi diskuterer politik (the subject), ikke en bestemt politiker (the person).
Lastly, be careful with the word 'politisk'. This is the adjective 'political'. You might hear 'en politisk beslutning' (a political decision). Learners sometimes use 'politiker' as an adjective, which is incorrect. You cannot say 'en politiker beslutning'. Always ensure you are using the noun form when referring to the individual.
While politiker is the standard term, Danish offers several synonyms and related words that provide more nuance depending on the context. Understanding these can help you sound more like a native speaker.
- Folketingsmedlem (MF)
- This is a more formal and specific term for a politiker who has been elected to the national parliament. In the media, you will often see the abbreviation 'MF' after their name (e.g., Mette Frederiksen, MF).
- Statsmand
- A 'statsmand' (statesman) is a politiker who is regarded as being exceptionally wise, experienced, and respected, often on the international stage. This is a very positive, high-status term.
- Beslutningstager
- Translating to 'decision-maker', this term is often used in business or administrative contexts to refer to politicians and high-ranking officials who have the power to change things.
Er han bare en almindelig politiker, eller er han en sand statsmand?
If you are looking for more specific roles, consider words like 'minister' (minister), 'borgmester' (mayor), or 'rådmand' (alderman). Each of these is a type of politiker. In a more cynical context, you might hear the word 'pamper', which refers to a politiker or official who is perceived as being more interested in their own benefits and power than in serving the public.
Mange folketingsmedlemmer deltager i debatten i aften.
Finally, the word 'valgbar' (eligible for election) is an adjective related to the ability of a person to become a politiker. Understanding these distinctions will significantly broaden your political vocabulary in Danish and allow you to navigate news articles with much greater ease.
Wusstest du?
In the 18th century, the word was sometimes used more broadly to describe anyone who was 'shrewd' or 'cunning' in social affairs, not just government officials.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing it like the English 'politician'.
- Putting the stress on the first syllable.
- Forgetting the soft 'd' sound if it were present (though it isn't here, learners often over-apply it).
- Pronouncing the final 'r' too harshly; it should be a vocalic 'ah'.
- Spelling it with a 'c'.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Han er politiker.
He is a politician.
Notice the absence of 'en' when stating a profession.
Er du politiker?
Are you a politician?
A simple question using the verb 'at være'.
En politiker arbejder meget.
A politician works a lot.
Indefinite singular noun used as a subject.
Jeg ser en politiker på TV.
I see a politician on TV.
Direct object in a simple sentence.
Min far er ikke politiker.
My father is not a politician.
Negative sentence using 'ikke'.
Hvor bor en politiker?
Where does a politician live?
Question word 'hvor' followed by the verb.
Her er en politiker.
Here is a politician.
Using 'her' to introduce a subject.
Hun vil være politiker.
She wants to be a politician.
Using the modal verb 'vil' (wants to).
Politikeren taler til folket.
The politician speaks to the people.
Definite singular noun 'politikeren'.
Der er mange politikere i Danmark.
There are many politicians in Denmark.
Indefinite plural 'politikere'.
Jeg kan godt lide denne politiker.
I like this politician.
Demonstrative pronoun 'denne' followed by the noun.
Politikeren har en blå bil.
The politician has a blue car.
Possessive sentence with an adjective.
Vi læser om en kendt politiker.
We are reading about a famous politician.
Preposition 'om' followed by an adjective and noun.
Politikerne skal tage en beslutning.
The politicians must make a decision.
Definite plural 'politikerne'.
Er politikeren i København i dag?
Is the politician in Copenhagen today?
Question about location.
En ny politiker starter i morgen.
A new politician starts tomorrow.
Adjective 'ny' modifying the noun.
Jeg stoler på den politiker, som taler sandheden.
I trust the politician who speaks the truth.
Relative clause starting with 'som'.
Politikeren lovede at sænke skatterne.
The politician promised to lower taxes.
Past tense verb 'lovede' followed by an infinitive phrase.
Hvis jeg var politiker, ville jeg ændre skolen.
If I were a politician, I would change the school.
Conditional sentence using 'hvis' and 'ville'.
Politikeren blev valgt med et stort flertal.
The politician was elected with a large majority.
Passive voice construction with 'blev'.
Det er vigtigt at lytte til hver eneste politiker.
It is important to listen to every single politician.
Using 'hver eneste' for emphasis.
Politikeren svarede ikke på spørgsmålet.
The politician did not answer the question.
Negative past tense.
Mange mener, at politikeren er for gammel.
Many think that the politician is too old.
Reported thought using 'mener, at'.
Hun er den mest populære politiker i år.
She is the most popular politician this year.
Superlative adjective 'mest populære'.
Politikeren formåede at skabe konsensus i partiet.
The politician managed to create consensus in the party.
Using 'formåede at' for achieving something difficult.
Der er stor forskel på en lokalpolitiker og en toppolitiker.
There is a big difference between a local politician and a top politician.
Comparison using compound nouns.
Politikeren blev kritiseret for sin manglende handling.
The politician was criticized for his lack of action.
Passive voice with a prepositional cause.
Selvom politikeren er ung, har han stor erfaring.
Even though the politician is young, he has great experience.
Concessive clause using 'selvom'.
Politikeren fremhævede behovet for grøn omstilling.
The politician highlighted the need for a green transition.
Formal verb 'fremhævede'.
Intet tyder på, at politikeren vil trække sig tilbage.
Nothing suggests that the politician will retire.
Complex introductory phrase 'Intet tyder på'.
Politikeren blev fanget i en løgn af journalisten.
The politician was caught in a lie by the journalist.
Passive construction with 'blev fanget'.
Som politiker skal man kunne tåle mosten.
As a politician, one must be able to stand the heat (idiom).
Using the idiom 'at kunne tåle mosten'.
Politikerens retorik var præget af populistiske undertoner.
The politician's rhetoric was characterized by populist undertones.
Genitive case and advanced vocabulary like 'præget af'.
Det er en udfordring for enhver politiker at balancere idealisme og realisme.
It is a challenge for any politician to balance idealism and realism.
Infinitive phrase acting as a subject complement.
Politikeren navigerede dygtigt gennem det parlamentariske landskab.
The politician skillfully navigated through the parliamentary landscape.
Metaphorical use of 'navigerede'.
Kritikere hævder, at politikeren har mistet forbindelsen til vælgerne.
Critics claim that the politician has lost touch with the voters.
Reported speech with 'hævder, at'.
Politikeren blev ekskluderet fra partiet efter skandalen.
The politician was expelled from the party after the scandal.
Formal verb 'ekskluderet'.
En sand politiker bør altid sætte landets interesser over egne.
A true politician should always put the country's interests above their own.
Using 'bør' for moral obligation.
Politikeren udviste stor integritet under hele forløbet.
The politician showed great integrity throughout the process.
High-level noun 'integritet'.
Der stilles skarpt på politikerens personlige økonomi.
The politician's personal finances are being scrutinized.
Idiomatic phrase 'stilles skarpt på'.
Politikerens diskurs afspejler en dyb forankring i den nordiske model.
The politician's discourse reflects a deep rooting in the Nordic model.
Academic vocabulary: 'diskurs', 'afspejler', 'forankring'.
Man kan problematisere politikerens tendens til at ty til teknokratiske løsninger.
One can problematize the politician's tendency to resort to technocratic solutions.
Using 'problematisere' as a verb.
Politikeren formidlede sit budskab med en sjælden grad af veltalenhed.
The politician conveyed their message with a rare degree of eloquence.
Advanced noun 'veltalenhed'.
Politikerens ageren i denne sag har vakt international opsigt.
The politician's actions in this case have attracted international attention.
Formal noun 'ageren'.
Det er en politiker, der formår at transcendere partipolitiske skel.
It is a politician who manages to transcend party political divides.
Using the verb 'transcendere'.
Politikeren blev indbegrebet af den politiske apati i befolkningen.
The politician became the epitome of the political apathy in the population.
Using 'indbegrebet af' (the epitome of).
Politikerens eftermæle vil blive defineret af denne historiske reform.
The politician's legacy will be defined by this historic reform.
Future passive construction with 'vil blive'.
Man må ikke undervurdere en politiker med en klar vision og folkelig opbakning.
One must not underestimate a politician with a clear vision and popular support.
Complex sentence with modal 'må ikke'.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— A slightly ironic way of referring to politicians.
Hvad har de kære politikere nu fundet på?
— Refers to the promises or statements made by a politician.
Man kan ikke altid stole på en politikers ord.
— To become a politician or start a political career.
Hun besluttede at gå ind i politik efter studiet.
— An old-school politician with traditional values.
Han er en politiker af den gamle skole.
— Being politically correct (adjective phrase).
Han prøver altid at være politisk korrekt.
— Where politicians often make deals (behind closed doors).
Politikerne mødtes bag lukkede døre.
— When a politician changes their political party.
Politikeren valgte at skifte side midt i perioden.
— A difficult issue that politicians avoid.
Skatteforhandlinger er altid en varm kartoffel for en politiker.
— When a politician tries to gain votes, often in a shallow way.
Han fisker bare efter stemmer med det forslag.
— When a politician avoids answering a question directly.
Politikeren var god til at tale udenom i interviewet.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— When a politician has many different roles or interests.
Som politiker og erhvervsmand har han mange kasketter på.
Informal— When a politician tries to sense the public mood before acting.
Politikeren stak fingeren i jorden før udmeldingen.
Neutral— When a politician tries to avoid responsibility for a failure.
Nu prøver politikeren at vaske hænder i skandalen.
Neutral— When a politician's message is ignored by the public or colleagues.
Han følte, at han som politiker talte for døve ører.
Neutral— When a politician exaggerates a danger to scare people.
Politikeren malede fanden på væggen angående økonomien.
Informal— When a politician tries to hide a problem.
Sagen blev fejet ind under gulvtæppet af politikerne.
Neutral— When a politician is controlled by a donor or interest group.
Folk siger, at han er i lommen på lobbyisterne.
Informal— When a politician gives up and resigns.
Efter nederlaget kastede politikeren håndklædet i ringen.
Neutral— When a politician benefits from a sudden trend or popularity.
Hun rider på en bølge af folkelig succes.
Neutral— When a politician says different things to different people (hypocrisy).
Vælgerne føler, at politikeren taler med to tunger.
NeutralWortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of a 'PO-LIce officer' of 'TI-ckets' and 'KER-nels' of truth. A PO-LI-TI-KER.
Wortherkunft
Derived from the Greek word 'politikos', meaning 'of, for, or relating to citizens'. It entered Danish via Latin 'politicus' and German 'Politiker'.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A person involved in the affairs of the city-state (polis).
Indo-European (Greek/Latin roots).Summary
The word 'politiker' is a common gender noun essential for discussing Danish society. Remember that when stating someone's profession, you usually omit the article: 'Hun er politiker'.
- A person professionally involved in government and law-making.
- Can refer to local, regional, or national elected officials in Denmark.
- Follows common gender rules (en politiker) and has specific plural forms.
- Central to Danish 'velfærdsstat' and 'konsensusdemokrati' discussions.
Verwandte Inhalte
Dieses Wort in anderen Sprachen
Mehr politics Wörter
afskaffe
B2To put an end to a system or practice
afskaffelse
B2The act of putting an end to a system.
angribe
B2to attack or assault
autoritet
B2Der Lehrer hat eine große Autorität gegenüber seinen Schülern.
bevillige
C1Offiziell Gelder, Ressourcen oder Erlaubnis gewähren oder zuweisen, normalerweise durch eine Behörde.
bevillingsmæssig
C1Bezieht sich auf offizielle Zuschüsse, Finanzierungen oder Budgetzuweisungen und deren Verwaltungsverfahren. Beschreibt etwas, das mit den formellen Regeln und Prozessen für den Erhalt und die Verwaltung von Zuschüssen oder zugewiesenen Geldern verbunden ist.
borger
B1a citizen
borgerlig
B2Bezieht sich auf Bürger, bürgerliche Werte oder traditionelle, konventionelle Lebensweisen, oft im politischen Kontext der Mitte-Rechts-Parteien.
debat
B1Die Debatte war sehr hitzig.
debattere
B2Ein Thema formell debattieren oder diskutieren.
