existensielle

Existensielle is a term used in Scandinavian languages, notably Danish and Norwegian, to refer to things connected with existence and the human condition. In English, it is commonly translated as existential or existentialist depending on context. The word functions as an adjective and appears in both philosophical and everyday usage; it frequently modifies questions, concerns, or traits related to being, meaning, authenticity, freedom, anxiety, and mortality.

In philosophy, the cognate concept is existentialism, a movement and body of thought that emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and the search for meaning in an indifferent or uncertain world. While existentialism is a formal Western tradition, Nordic writers and thinkers have contributed to the discourse with terms and phrases using existensielle forms, such as eksistensielle spørsmål (existential questions) or eksistensiell angst (existential anxiety).

The term is not itself a school of thought but a linguistic marker used to categorize topics within the broader discussion of human existence. In academic and literary contexts, existensielle is used to describe works, analyses, or inquiries that focus on issues such as self-definition, responsibility, mortality, and the tension between contingency and choice.

See also existentialism, authenticity, angst, being, meaning of life.