cyklen

Cyklen is the definite singular form of the Danish noun cykel, meaning bicycle. A bicycle is a two-wheeled, human-powered vehicle used for transportation, sport, and recreation. In everyday Danish, the bicycle is a common sight in both urban and rural settings, and the word appears in many everyday expressions and place names.

In Danish grammar, cykel is an en-word (common gender). The indefinite singular is en cykel; the plural is cykler; the definite singular is cyklen; and the definite plural is cyklerne. Examples include Jeg har en cykel (I have a bicycle) and Cyklerne står ved cykelstativerne (The bicycles are standing at the bike racks).

Etymology and cognates: the Danish term cykel is a 19th‑century loanword derived from the broader term cycle, related to similar forms in other Scandinavian languages such as Swedish cykel and Norwegian sykkel. These terms share the same Germanic root ultimately linked to the idea of a circular or repeating motion.

Usage and culture: cycling is a widespread mode of transport in Denmark, reflected in infrastructure and language. The word cyklen appears in road signs, discussions of transport policy, and everyday speech. Danish compounds built with cykel are common, including cykelsti (bike lane), cykelhjelm (bike helmet), and cykelkurv (bike basket).