When you're just starting out in Danish, words like virkelig are super useful. It's an adverb, which means it describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Think of it like adding emphasis or confirming something.
At A1 level, you'll use it to express things like 'really good' or 'actually true.' It's a foundational word for making your Danish sound more natural and expressive, even in simple sentences. Don't worry too much about all the grammar rules around adverbs just yet; focus on hearing and using virkelig in common phrases.
When we use the word 'virkelig' in Danish, it's often to emphasize that something is true or authentic. Think of it like saying 'really' or 'actually' in English. It's an adverb, so it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
For instance, if someone says 'Det er virkelig koldt,' they mean 'It is really cold.' It adds intensity to the statement. You can also use it to confirm something, like 'Er det virkelig sandt?' which means 'Is that really true?'
It's a versatile word that helps to express sincerity or a heightened degree of something. Pay attention to how native speakers use it to get a good feel for its various nuances.
§ Danish word: virkelig
- Word
- virkelig
- Type
- adverb
- CEFR Level
- A1
- Definition
- in actual fact; really, truly; very
§ How to use 'virkelig'
'Virkelig' is a very common Danish adverb. It's used to emphasize something, similar to 'really' or 'very' in English. You can use it to talk about how true something is or to intensify adjectives and other adverbs.
It usually comes before the word it's modifying. Let's look at some examples.
Det er virkelig koldt i dag.
Translation hint: It is really cold today.
Hun er virkelig sød.
Translation hint: She is really sweet.
You can also use 'virkelig' when asking a question to express surprise or to confirm something.
Er det virkelig sandt?
Translation hint: Is that really true?
Har du virkelig set ham?
Translation hint: Did you really see him?
In Danish, adverbs like 'virkelig' are typically placed after the verb in main clauses and before the verb in subordinate clauses, but for 'virkelig' when it modifies an adjective or another adverb, it usually comes right before it, regardless of clause type.
§ Common phrases with 'virkelig'
You'll hear 'virkelig' often in everyday Danish conversations. Here are a few common phrases:
Det er virkelig godt! (That is really good!)
Jeg er virkelig træt. (I am really tired.)
Virkelig? (Really? - used as a short question)
Practice using 'virkelig' in your Danish sentences. Try to describe things you see or how you feel, adding 'virkelig' for emphasis. It's a simple word that will make your Danish sound much more natural.
§ Don't confuse 'virkelig' with 'virkeligt'
Many Danish learners mix up 'virkelig' (adverb) with 'virkeligt' (adjective/adverb, depending on context). While they come from the same root ('virke' - to work/act/have an effect), their usage is different. 'Virkelig' as an adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. 'Virkeligt' can be an adjective meaning 'real' or 'actual', or an adverb used in specific constructions.
- DEFINITION
- In actual fact; truly, really.
Han er virkelig sød. (He is really kind.)
Here, 'virkelig' describes 'sød' (kind). It's an adverb modifying an adjective.
Det er en virkelig god bog. (It is a really good book.)
Again, 'virkelig' modifies 'god' (good).
§ Using 'virkelig' incorrectly for 'real'
You might be tempted to use 'virkelig' when you mean 'real' or 'actual' as an adjective. However, in Danish, you would typically use 'virkelig' (no -t ending) when it's an adverb and 'virkeligt' (with -t ending) when it's an adjective modifying an 'et' noun, or 'virkelige' for plural and 'en' nouns.
Dette er et virkeligt problem. (This is a real problem.)
Here, 'virkeligt' is an adjective describing 'problem' (an 'et' noun).
Er det en virkelig historie? (Is that a real story?) - *Incorrect, should be 'virkelig' or 'sand' if story is 'en' noun*
The correct form would depend on the noun. For 'en historie', you would use 'virkelig' as the adjective, not 'virkeligt'. However, often 'sand' (true) is more natural for 'real story'.
Er det en sand historie? (Is that a true story?)
§ Overusing 'virkelig'
While 'virkelig' is a useful word, some learners tend to overuse it as an intensifier. Just like in English, using 'really' too often can make your speech sound less natural or emphatic. Try to vary your vocabulary with other intensifiers or find stronger adjectives/verbs that convey the intensity without needing an extra word.
- Instead of 'Det er virkelig godt' (It is really good), you could say 'Det er fantastisk!' (It is fantastic!)
- Instead of 'Jeg er virkelig træt' (I am really tired), try 'Jeg er udmattet' (I am exhausted).
§ Placement of 'virkelig'
The placement of 'virkelig' as an adverb generally follows Danish adverb placement rules. It usually comes after the verb in main clauses and before the verb in subordinate clauses, or before the adjective/adverb it modifies. Misplacing it can sound awkward to a native speaker.
Han taler virkelig godt dansk. (He speaks really good Danish.)
Here, 'virkelig' modifies 'godt' (well).
Jeg synes, at han virkelig forstår det. (I think that he really understands it.)
In the subordinate clause, 'virkelig' comes before the verb 'forstår'.
Pronunciation Guide
- pronouncing the 'g' at the end too hard
- not stressing the first syllable
Difficulty Rating
short and common
short and common
short and common
short and common
What to Learn Next
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
Det er virkelig vigtigt, at du forstår dette.
It is really important that you understand this.
Jeg har virkelig glædet mig til at se dig igen.
I have really looked forward to seeing you again.
Han er virkelig god til at spille guitar.
He is really good at playing guitar.
Er du virkelig sikker på, at det er den rigtige vej?
Are you really sure that it is the right way?
Det var en virkelig svær beslutning at træffe.
It was a really difficult decision to make.
Jeg kan virkelig ikke tro, hvad der skete i går.
I really cannot believe what happened yesterday.
Hun har virkelig forbedret sit dansk på kort tid.
She has really improved her Danish in a short time.
Vi havde en virkelig hyggelig aften sammen.
We had a really pleasant evening together.
Jeg har virkelig nydt din selskab i aften; det har været en fornøjelse at lære dig bedre at kende.
I have really enjoyed your company tonight; it has been a pleasure to get to know you better.
Det er virkelig imponerende, hvordan du har formået at holde hovedet koldt under så meget pres.
It is truly impressive how you have managed to keep a cool head under so much pressure.
Jeg er virkelig taknemmelig for al den hjælp, du har ydet i forbindelse med projektet; det ville ikke have været muligt uden dig.
I am genuinely grateful for all the help you have provided with the project; it would not have been possible without you.
Selvom det måske virker umuligt nu, er jeg virkelig overbevist om, at vi vil finde en løsning på denne udfordring.
Although it may seem impossible now, I am truly convinced that we will find a solution to this challenge.
At se den historiske bygning i virkeligheden var en virkelig bevægende oplevelse, der overgik alle forventninger.
Seeing the historic building in reality was a truly moving experience that surpassed all expectations.
Han er virkelig en mand af ære og principper; hans integritet er urokkelig, uanset omstændighederne.
He is truly a man of honor and principles; his integrity is unwavering, regardless of the circumstances.
Den seneste forskning har virkelig kastet nyt lys over emnet og udfordret mange af vores tidligere antagelser.
The latest research has truly shed new light on the subject and challenged many of our previous assumptions.
Jeg må indrømme, at jeg var virkelig forbløffet over hans evne til at improvisere en så detaljeret og overbevisende historie på stedet.
I must admit that I was truly astonished by his ability to improvise such a detailed and convincing story on the spot.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Det er virkelig godt.
It is really good.
Hun er virkelig smuk.
She is really beautiful.
Det var virkelig interessant.
It was really interesting.
Er det virkelig vigtigt?
Is it really important?
Det er virkelig svært at lære dansk.
It is really difficult to learn Danish.
Jeg er virkelig glad for at se dig.
I am really happy to see you.
Det er virkelig koldt udenfor.
It is really cold outside.
Jeg er virkelig træt i dag.
I am really tired today.
Filmen var virkelig spændende.
The movie was really exciting.
Det var en virkelig dårlig dag.
It was a really bad day.
Idioms & Expressions
"virkelig talt"
strictly speaking
Virkelig talt, det er en god idé. (Strictly speaking, it is a good idea.)
neutral"virkelig sandt"
really true
Er det virkelig sandt? (Is it really true?)
neutral"virkelig en forskel"
really a difference
Det gør virkelig en forskel. (It really makes a difference.)
neutral"virkelig imponerende"
truly impressive
Det er virkelig imponerende! (That is truly impressive!)
neutral"virkelig sjovt"
really fun
Vi havde det virkelig sjovt. (We had really fun.)
neutral"virkelig svært"
really difficult
Det var virkelig svært at lære. (It was really difficult to learn.)
neutral"virkelig vigtigt"
really important
Det er virkelig vigtigt for mig. (It is really important to me.)
neutral"virkelig god"
really good
Denne bog er virkelig god. (This book is really good.)
neutral"virkelig ked af det"
really sorry
Jeg er virkelig ked af det. (I am really sorry about it.)
neutral"virkelig smuk"
really beautiful
Huset er virkelig smukt. (The house is really beautiful.)
neutralHow to Use It
How to use 'virkelig'
'Virkelig' is an adverb in Danish that means 'really', 'truly', or 'in actual fact'. It is used to emphasize the truth or intensity of something.
You can use 'virkelig' to:
- Emphasize adjectives: Det er virkelig godt. (It is really good.)
- Emphasize verbs: Jeg virkelig kan lide det. (I really like it.)
- Emphasize other adverbs: Hun synger virkelig smukt. (She sings really beautifully.)
It usually comes before the word it modifies.
Common Mistakes with 'virkelig'
A common mistake for English speakers is to confuse 'virkelig' with 'actual' or 'actually' in a sense of 'currently existing' or 'in reality'. While it can translate to 'in actual fact', it's primarily an intensifier.
- Incorrect: Den virkelig bog er på bordet. (Attempting to say 'The actual book is on the table.')
- Correct: Den rigtige bog er på bordet. (The correct/right book is on the table.) 'Rigtig' is often a better choice for 'actual' in this sense.
Remember, 'virkelig' adds emphasis, like 'really' or 'very'.
Test Yourself 36 questions
Which word means 'really' or 'truly'?
'Virkelig' means 'really' or 'truly'.
Dette er ___ godt. (This is ___ good.)
'Virkelig' fits here to emphasize 'good'.
Hvilken sætning bruger 'virkelig' korrekt?
'Virkelig' describes how glad he is. It modifies an adjective or verb.
The word 'virkelig' can be used to emphasize something.
Yes, 'virkelig' is often used to add emphasis, similar to 'really' or 'truly' in English.
'Virkelig' is a noun.
'Virkelig' is an adverb, meaning it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
If something is 'virkelig smukt', it means it is truly beautiful.
Correct. 'Virkelig smukt' translates to 'truly beautiful' or 'really beautiful'.
Write a short sentence saying that something is 'really good' in Danish. You can choose what 'something' is.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Maden er virkelig god.
Imagine you are talking about the weather. Write a simple Danish sentence to say 'It is really cold.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Det er virkelig koldt.
You want to say that you are 'really happy'. Write this short sentence in Danish.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg er virkelig glad.
What does Anna say about her dog?
Read this passage:
Hej! Jeg hedder Anna. Min hund er virkelig sød. Den kan lide at lege. Den løber i parken hver dag.
What does Anna say about her dog?
The passage says 'Min hund er virkelig sød', which means 'My dog is really cute'.
The passage says 'Min hund er virkelig sød', which means 'My dog is really cute'.
What does the person say about their new car?
Read this passage:
Jeg har en ny bil. Den er rød. Den er virkelig hurtig. Jeg kører på arbejde hver dag.
What does the person say about their new car?
The passage states 'Den er virkelig hurtig', meaning 'It is really fast'.
The passage states 'Den er virkelig hurtig', meaning 'It is really fast'.
What is said about the food?
Read this passage:
Vi spiser middag kl. 18. Maden er virkelig lækker. Jeg kan godt lide at spise her.
What is said about the food?
The passage says 'Maden er virkelig lækker', which translates to 'The food is really delicious'.
The passage says 'Maden er virkelig lækker', which translates to 'The food is really delicious'.
This sentence means 'It is really good'. The adverb 'virkelig' (really/truly) modifies the adjective 'godt' (good).
This sentence translates to 'She is really beautiful'. 'Virkelig' emphasizes the adjective 'smuk' (beautiful).
This means 'I am really tired'. 'Virkelig' is placed before the adjective it modifies, 'træt' (tired).
The correct order is: The book is really interesting.
The correct order is: He eats really fast.
The correct order is: The weather is really beautiful today.
Skriv en kort passage (3-4 sætninger) om en situation, hvor noget uventet skete, og hvordan du opdagede, hvad der virkelig foregik.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg troede, at mødet ville være kedeligt, men det udviklede sig virkelig interessant. Jeg opdagede, at mine kolleger havde planlagt en overraskelsesfest for mig. Det var virkelig rørende, og jeg var meget glad for deres indsats.
Beskriv en person, du kender godt. Brug 'virkelig' til at understrege en af deres karaktertræk eller en handling, de for nylig har udført.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Min veninde er virkelig intelligent. Hun løste et komplekst problem på arbejdet, som ingen andre kunne finde ud af. Det var virkelig imponerende at se hendes evner i aktion.
Forestil dig, at du er på en rejse. Skriv en kort dagbogsnotat, hvor du bruger 'virkelig' til at udtrykke en stærk følelse eller oplevelse fra din dag.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I dag besøgte jeg et gammelt slot, og det var virkelig betagende. Udsigten fra tårnet var virkelig spektakulær, og jeg følte mig virkelig lille i den store historie. Det var en virkelig mindeværdig dag.
Hvad beviste den unge kvinde 'virkelig'?
Read this passage:
En ung kvinde startede sin egen virksomhed med en ny idé. Mange tvivlede på hende, men hun arbejdede hårdt. Efter et år var hendes virksomhed en stor succes. Hun sagde: 'Jeg troede ikke, det ville lykkes, men jeg har virkelig bevist, at man kan opnå sine mål, hvis man kæmper for dem.'
Hvad beviste den unge kvinde 'virkelig'?
Teksten siger, at hun 'virkelig beviste, at man kan opnå sine mål, hvis man kæmper for dem.'
Teksten siger, at hun 'virkelig beviste, at man kan opnå sine mål, hvis man kæmper for dem.'
Hvad overraskede forskerne ved medicinen?
Read this passage:
En gruppe forskere undersøgte effekten af en ny medicin. De forventede, at den ville have en vis virkning, men resultaterne var overvældende. Medicinen viste sig at være virkelig effektiv til at lindre symptomerne hos patienterne. Deres opdagelse blev hyldet som et gennembrud.
Hvad overraskede forskerne ved medicinen?
Passagen nævner, at 'Medicinen viste sig at være virkelig effektiv til at lindre symptomerne'.
Passagen nævner, at 'Medicinen viste sig at være virkelig effektiv til at lindre symptomerne'.
Hvad var 'virkelig' det hele værd for personen?
Read this passage:
Jeg har altid drømt om at bestige et højt bjerg. Efter mange måneders træning og forberedelse tog jeg endelig afsted. Turen var utrolig hård, men udsigten fra toppen var virkelig det hele værd. Jeg følte en enorm stolthed og glæde over at have opnået mit mål.
Hvad var 'virkelig' det hele værd for personen?
Sætningen siger: 'udsigten fra toppen var virkelig det hele værd.'
Sætningen siger: 'udsigten fra toppen var virkelig det hele værd.'
Han er ___ god til at male, jeg blev helt imponeret over hans seneste udstilling.
In this context, 'virkelig' emphasizes the extent of his painting skills, meaning 'really' or 'truly' good, which fits the admiring tone.
Er du ___ sikker på, at vi skal tage den beslutning nu, uden yderligere overvejelse?
'Virkelig' here questions the certainty of the decision, implying 'are you truly' or 'are you really' sure, which is appropriate for seeking strong confirmation.
Jeg tror, han ___ forstod dybden af problemet, selvom han sagde ja.
Here, 'virkelig' implies 'truly' or 'genuinely,' suggesting a doubt about his full comprehension, which aligns with the nuance of the sentence.
Det er ___ utroligt, hvor hurtigt teknologien udvikler sig i disse år.
'Virkelig' intensifies 'utroligt' (incredible), expressing a strong sense of astonishment at the rapid technological advancement.
Man kan ___ se, at der er lagt mange timer i det projekt, det er meget detaljeret.
The use of 'virkelig' here emphasizes the obviousness of the effort put into the project, meaning 'one can truly see,' which fits the context of noticing detail.
Selvom det lyder som en overdrivelse, var det ___ en af de bedste ferier, jeg nogensinde har haft.
'Virkelig' confirms the authenticity of the statement, meaning 'it was truly' or 'it was really' one of the best holidays, despite potential skepticism.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
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
