Borgernes

Borgernes is the Danish genitive form of borgerne, meaning the citizens. It marks possession or association with the group of citizens and is used with plural definite nouns. In Danish orthography, the possessive is formed by adding -s to the definite plural borgerne, producing borgernes.

The base noun borger means a citizen, typically of a city or town. Borgerne is the definite plural, the citizens. Borgernes is the possessive plural, the citizens’. For example, borgernes rettigheder (the citizens’ rights), borgernes deltagelse i valget (the citizens’ participation in the election).

Etymology: borger is from Germanic roots. It is cognate with German Bürger and English burgess, reflecting the historical concept of a town dweller or citizen. The word borgerne and borgernes are standard in modern Danish.

Usage: Common in legal, political, and administrative Danish, but also appearing in everyday language to denote collective rights or responsibilities of citizens. It contrasts with forms for individuals (e.g., borger).