Kritikere

Kritikere is the Danish and Norwegian plural noun for "critics." It refers to people who evaluate, interpret, and judge cultural works such as films, literature, theatre, and music, as well as ideas and policies in academic or media contexts. The term is commonly used in journalism, reviews, and cultural commentary to denote a group of reviewers or a profession.

In Norwegian Bokmål and Danish, the base form is kritiker for the singular and kritikere for the indefinite plural. The definite plural form is kritikerne in both languages. The word functions as a neutral descriptor in most contexts, though it can be used pejoratively depending on tone and subject matter.

Etymology traces kritikere to the root criticus, with intermediary forms in Latin and French (critique), and later adoption into German and other European languages. The concept of a critic as a person who analyzes and forms judgment about art, culture, and ideas is found across many languages, and kritikere reflects this common literary and cultural role in Danish and Norwegian.

Usage and nuance: Kritikere can refer to professional critics—journalists, scholars, or critics within press and academia—as well as to lay reviewers who participate in public debates. In formal writing, the definite form kritikerne may be used when referring to a known or previously discussed group of critics. The term is generally neutral, though context can color its reception, depending on whether critics are praised for insight or criticized for partisanship.