Realiteterne

Realiteterne is the definite plural form of the Danish noun realitet, meaning “the realities” or “the realties.” It refers to the actual conditions or states that exist in a given context and is often used to distinguish between different kinds of realities in discourse, such as economic, social, technological, or political realities. The corresponding indefinite plural is realiteter, and the singular is realitet; the definite singular is realiteten and the definite plural realiteterne.

Etymology and form: Realitet originates from the French realité and Latin realitas, adopted into Danish with the plural realiteter. The definite plural suffix -ne yields the form realiteterne, which marks both plurality and definiteness.

Usage: Realiteterne commonly appears in academic writing, journalism, policy analysis, and public debate. It is used when contrasting lived or perceived realities with empirical facts, or when enumerating multiple realities that affect a situation. The term helps to frame discussions around how different groups experience conditions such as economy, society, or governance, and how these realities interact with policy and opinion.

In culture and media: The concept is employed in analyses of media representation and public discourse to examine how narratives align with or diverge from actual conditions, and to explore how competing realities shape collective understanding and decision-making.

See also: virkelighed (reality), realitet, virkeligheder. Realiteterne provides a linguistic tool for discussing multiple, concrete realities within a single discourse, without asserting a single universal truth.