emotionelt

Emotionelt is a Danish term meaning related to emotion or characterized by emotion. It functions as an adjective when describing something as emotional (for example en emotionel reaktion) and as an adverb when indicating an emotional manner of action (reagerte emotionelt). The form is used similarly in Norwegian Bokmål; in Swedish the cognate is emotionell.

Etymology traces the word to the noun emotion, via the French émotionnel and ultimately from Latin emovere or emotio. The Danish suffixes -el and -elt are used to form adjectives and adverbs relating to a quality, in this case emotion.

In usage, emotionelt appears across psychology, journalism, and everyday speech to describe feelings, affect, or mood-influenced behavior. It can describe a state, expression, or decision that is influenced by emotions, as well as the manner in which someone acts. The term is generally neutral in descriptive contexts but may carry evaluative connotations when used to contrast with rational or detached approaches.

Synonyms and related terms in Danish include følelsesmæssig and følelsesladet. The choice between forms can affect tone: emotionelt often has a more formal or analytical feel, while følelsesmæssig is common in everyday speech. In English, the closest equivalents are emotional or emotionally.