alvorligheder

Alvorligheder is the plural of alvorlighed, a Danish noun meaning seriousness, gravity, or severity. It refers to the quality of being serious or to the seriousness of a matter, situation, or condition. The term is used in both formal and everyday Danish to describe the weight or import of risks, consequences, and moral considerations.

In legal, administrative, and public-policy discourse, alvorligheder can describe the severity of offenses or the potential impact of outcomes. The word helps convey how significant a case or decision is, which can influence judgments, penalties, and regulatory responses. In journalism and debate, it is used to indicate the substantial nature of a topic without taking a position on its desirability.

In health-related contexts, alvorligheder may appear when discussing the seriousness of a condition, symptoms, or complications. More specific medical phrasing is common, such as alvorlig sygdom or alvorlige komplikationer, but alvorligheder can be used to refer to multiple serious health concerns in a broader discussion.

Grammatically, alvorlighed is the base noun; adding the plural ending -er yields alvorligheder. The word is formed from the adjective alvorlig (serious) with the suffix -hed, a common Danish pattern for abstract nouns. It is related in meaning to seriousness, gravity, and severity, and it is distinct from the adverb alvorligt and the adjective alvorlig.

See also: seriousness, gravity, severity.