Ordbøger

Ordbøger, or dictionaries, are reference works that compile words of a language along with information about their meanings, pronunciation, and usage. In Danish and Norwegian contexts the term covers monolingual dictionaries that define words in the target language as well as bilingual or multilingual dictionaries that provide translations to other languages. There are also specialized ordbøger focusing on particular domains, such as technical terminology, dialects, slang, or proper names.

Entries typically include the headword, phonetic transcription, part of speech, one or more definitions, example sentences, etymology, inflectional forms, and notes on usage. Many dictionaries include cross-references, pronunciation audio, collocations, semantic relations (synonyms and antonyms), and usage advice. Online ordbøger often offer search tools, frequency data, and integration with corpora, enabling analysis of language use over time.

Historically, ordbøger evolved from medieval glossaries and lexicographic word lists to printed dictionaries in the early modern period. In the Danish tradition, works such as Ordbog over det danske sprog (ODS) have played a central role in standardizing spellings and meanings. The Danish language has since expanded into contemporary online dictionaries maintained by linguistic institutions, publishers, and crowdsourced contributions.

Today ordbøger are essential resources for education, translation, writing, and language research. They reflect language change, document regional varieties, and support language policy and literacy. As with many reference works, modern ordbøger balance authority, inclusivity, and accessibility through open data and digital platforms.