Brændt

Brændt is a Danish adjective and the past participle of the verb brænde, meaning to burn. It denotes that something has been exposed to fire or heat and has become burned, charred, or scorched to some degree. The word is commonly used to describe food that has been overcooked by burning (for example, brændt brød or brændt kaffe) as well as objects damaged by fire. In predicative use it can appear in sentences such as kagen er brændt (the cake is burnt) or jeg har brændt panden (I have burned my forehead).

Origin and usage notes: Brændt is formed from the verb brænde and functions as a past participle; as such it is used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses and can be employed both attributively and predicatively. It shares a common Germanic origin with cognates in other Scandinavian languages and represents the standard Danish form for “burnt.”

Context and orthography: The form brændt reflects Danish orthography, including the letter æ. In Danish, adjectives like brændt can describe things directly (brændt kød, brændt kage) or participate in verb phrases with auxiliary verbs (har brændt, er brændt). While primarily literal, the term can also appear in metaphorical or descriptive language to convey damage, wear from heat, or extensive use.

See also: brænde (to burn) and related verb forms; Danish past participle formation; cognate terms in other Scandinavian languages.