gælde

Gælde is a Danish verb meaning to apply, to be valid, or to be in effect. It is used to indicate what is applicable in a given situation, such as rules, laws, offers, or statements. The most common expression is the fixed phrase det gælder, meaning that applies or that is the case.

In everyday usage, gælde appears in sentences like: Denne regel gælder for alle (This rule applies to everyone) and Tilbuddet gælder til udgangen af måneden (The offer is valid until the end of the month). The expression can also convey importance or priority in constructions like Det gælder at være forsigtig (It is important to be careful).

Grammatical notes: gælde is a regular verb in its present tense, with the form gælder across persons (jeg gælder, du gælder, han/hun gælder, vi gælder, I gælder, de gælder). The simple past is gældte. The past participle is often realized as gældte or gjaldt in some varieties, and the verb appears in compound tenses with have as appropriate in Danish syntax.

Noun usage: gælde as a noun exists mainly in historical or regional texts and is not common in modern Danish. When referring to validity or applicability in contemporary language, Danish typically uses gyldighed, anvendelighed, or relevans rather than the noun gælde.

Cognates and related forms: gælde has close equivalents in Norwegian (gjelde) and Swedish (gälla), with similarly used expressions and meanings related to validity, applicability, and obligation. These forms share a common Germanic origin and are most often encountered in legal, bureaucratic, or formal contexts.

See also: gæld, gyldig, gyldighed, gjelde, gälla.