Særlige

Særlige is a Danish adjective meaning "special" or "particular." It is used to describe nouns and is the inflected form that appears in certain combinations of number and definiteness; the base form is særlig. In Danish, adjectives are declined to agree with the noun in number and definiteness, so særlige is used for plural nouns and for definite singular nouns.

Etymology and related forms: særlige derives from the older form særlig, with the usual Danish suffix -e appearing in inflected positions such as definite singular and plural. The word is related to Norwegian særleg and Swedish särskild, all tracing back to a common Germanic root meaning distinct or separate.

Usage and nuance: særlige conveys a broad sense of “special” or “noteworthy,” applying to objects, circumstances, situations, and sometimes people. It is distinct from the adverb særligt, which means “especially.” In some contexts, speciel (or särskild) can be used in more technical or formal registers, but særlige remains the common everyday form in ordinary Danish.

Examples:

- En særlig mand (a special man)

- Særlige muligheder (special opportunities)

- De særlige muligheder (the special opportunities)

- Den særlige mand (the special man)

See also: særlig, særligt, speciel, särskild.