Udtalet

Udtalet is a Danish term meaning the pronunciation of a word or phrase. In linguistics and language education, udtalet refers to how a word is spoken, including phonemes, stress, rhythm and intonation. Dictionaries and teaching materials use udtalet to describe the conventional or standard way a word is articulated, often accompanied by an IPA transcription to specify exact sounds. The concept is central to Danish phonetics and phonology, with recognition that pronunciation can vary across dialects and social registers.

Udtalet is formed from the verb udtale, meaning to pronounce. The related noun udtale denotes pronunciation more generally, while different grammatical forms such as udtalet and udtalen appear in actual Danish usage depending on the sentence structure. In practice, the precise spelling of these forms reflects Danish grammar rather than a separate concept.

In use, udtalet guides learners toward accurate articulation, including vowel quality, consonant realization, and prosodic features like intonation and rhythm. Regional accents influence udtalet, with noticeable differences among Copenhagen, Jutland, and the island regions. Danish pronunciation also encompasses phenomena such as stød, a glottal or creaky-voiced element that can affect the pronunciation of certain syllables and words.

See also: udtale, stød, IPA.