Forvandle

Forvandle is a verb used in Danish and Norwegian Bokmål to describe the act of changing something’s form, appearance, or character. It denotes transforming or converting a state into another and is typically transitive, taking a direct object and indicating the result with til, as in forvandle noget til noget. Danish examples include De forvandlede den gamle fabrik til et moderne kontorbyggeri and Hun forvandlede ideen til et konkret projekt. Norwegian examples include De forvandler den gamle fabrik til et moderne kontorbygg.

Etymology and cognates: The word belongs to the shared Germanic language family and is built with the prefix for- and a root associated with changing. It has close cognates in Swedish, where the corresponding verb is förvandla. The related noun form in Danish and Norwegian is forvandling (transformation).

Usage and nuances: Forvandle often conveys a substantial or visible change, whether physical, aesthetic, or conceptual. It is common in formal or descriptive contexts such as design, architecture, literature, and media. Other related verbs include omforme and forandre, which can be broader or less dramatic in tone. The noun forvandling or forvandlingen is used to refer to the process or result of transformation.

See also: forvandling; forvandlet; förvandling (Swedish).