Underlige

Underlige is a Danish adjective meaning strange, odd, or peculiar. It is used to describe people, events, objects, or atmospheres that stand out from what is normal or expected. The nuance can range from mild curiosity to suspicion, depending on the context, and it can carry positive, neutral, or negative connotations.

Etymology and related forms: Underlige is derived from the Old Norse root undr meaning wonder, combined with the suffix -lig, which forms adjectives. The original sense was roughly “worthy of wonder” or “causing wonder.” Over time, the word developed broader meanings that include odd or eerie in everyday speech. The base form is underlig; its inflected plural and common practices include underlige (as in underlige ting) and the neuter form underligt in certain constructions. The related noun underlighed refers to oddness or strangeness, and the verb undre means to wonder.

Usage: In modern Danish, underlige frequently describes things that attract attention because they are not ordinary. Examples include en underlig hændelse (an odd event), underlige sager (strange matters), and en underlig stemning (an odd, peculiar atmosphere). It can describe behavior, situations, or sensations, as in han opførte sig underligt (he acted strangely) or jeg følte en underlig fornemmelse (I felt a peculiar feeling). When a stronger or more negative sense is intended, words like mærkelig or mystisk may be used, but underlig remains common for everyday speech.

See also: The term has close equivalents in Norwegian and Swedish, where underlig similarly conveys oddness and wonder, though usage varies by region and context.