kæmpe

Kæmpe is a word used in Danish, with a Norwegian cognate kjempe, that has several related meanings across these languages. It appears in different parts of speech and in various contexts, making it a common item in everyday speech as well as folklore.

As a noun, kæmpe (Danish) or kjempe (Norwegian) can mean a giant, a very large person, typically in folklore or fairy tales. In everyday usage the noun may refer to a character of exceptional size or strength, often in legends and children's stories.

As an adjective, kæmpe functions as a predeterminative meaning "huge" or "enormous" when placed before a noun, as in et kæmpe problem in Danish. In Norwegian you can find similar uses, including compounds or phrases that convey a strong degree of size or importance, such as kjempe stor or kjempebra in common speech.

As a verb, both Danish kæmpe and Norwegian kjempe mean "to fight" or "to struggle," used in literal combat as well as figurative expressions like fighting through difficulties.

In cultural contexts, giants are common figures in Scandinavian folklore, literature, and popular media, where the word kæmpe or kjempe appears in descriptions, titles, and idioms. Etymologically, the Danish verb kæmpe and its Norwegian cognate kjempe derive from Proto-Germanic roots related to combat and struggle, with cognates found across other Germanic languages.

Today the term is integrated into modern Danish and Norwegian as a general-purpose word for large size, effort, or intensity, and it also appears in place names and everyday expressions without altering its core meanings.