Engang

Engang is a Danish word meaning "once" or "at one time." It functions primarily as an adverb used to refer to something that occurred in the past, often in a nostalgic or historical sense. In many contexts, Danish normally expresses a single occurrence with the two-word phrase en gang, but engang can serve as a more compact option in certain formulations, such as in clauses that recall past times. Examples include sentences like Engang boede han her (Once he lived here) or Engang i min ungdom (In my youth, at some point).

Etymology and related forms: Engang is native to Danish and belongs to the North Germanic language family. It is closely related to cognate forms in related languages that express past time or occasions. The precise historical development is tied to medieval Danish usage, and engang has retained a meaning aligned with past reference rather than a literal count of events.

Usage notes: In contemporary Danish, engang is common in both spoken and written language, especially when a more literary or retrospective tone is desired. For straightforward references to a single occurrence in the past, many speakers prefer en gang (one time); engang is more often found in phrases that evoke reminiscence or describe past eras. The expression i gamle dage (“in the old days”) is another common way to set a nostalgic past alongside engang.

See also: en gang; i gamle dage; tidigare.