Pligter

Pligter is a Danish noun in the plural that denotes duties, obligations, or responsibilities that a person is expected to fulfill. It covers legal duties, social expectations, and personal responsibilities. The singular form is pligt, and the definite plural is pligterne (the duties). English equivalents are duties or obligations.

Etymology and related terms: Pligter derives from the Danish word pligt; cognates appear in Swedish plikt and German Pflicht, reflecting a common Germanic origin. The term is used in both formal and informal contexts to describe what a person is bound to do, often with a normative or binding sense.

Usage and nuance: Pligter is commonly used in discussions of law, governance, and civic life as well as in everyday language. Examples include borgerlige pligter (civic duties), families, or workplaces, such as forældres pligter (parents’ duties) or arbejdspligter (work duties). Pligter emphasizes obligations that are expected or required rather than merely voluntary commitments. It is related in meaning to, but distinct from, forpligtelser (commitments) and ansvar (responsibility), which can carry slightly different connotations of obligation, obligation to act, or accountability.

In summary, pligter denotes the duties and obligations tied to a role, situation, or legal framework, across contexts from law to daily life, and forms a key element in discussions of normative expectations in Danish.