Fjendtligt

Fjendtligt is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to describe actions, attitudes, or expressions that are hostile or antagonistic. It functions chiefly as an adverb meaning “in a hostile way” and is the common adverbial form of the related adjective fjendtlig, which means “hostile” or “unfriendly.” The noun forms fjendtlighed (Danish) or fjendtlighet (Norwegian) refer to hostility or antagonism. The word is used across formal and journalistic contexts and can describe tone, stance, or intent.

Etymology and related forms: The word derives from the root fjende, meaning “enemy,” present in Danish fjende and Norwegian fjende. The adjective fjendtlig and the adverb fjendtligt are formed by standard Danish and Norwegian suffixes, linking to Germanic roots for “foe” or “enemy.” Related terms include fjende (enemy) and fjendtlighet or fjendtlighed (hostility), which help capture the broader semantic field of antagonism.

Usage and nuance: Fjendtligt is common in written and formal language, including reporting and analysis, to convey a hostile manner or disposition. In everyday speech speakers often prefer synonyms such as unfriendly or hostile, but fjendtligt remains appropriate when describing tone or intent. Example usages include: et fjendtligt udtryk (a hostile expression), en fjendtlig holdning (a hostile attitude), or han så fjendtligt på dem (he looked at them hostilely).

See also: fjende; fjendtlighet/fjendtlighed; hostility.