lykkelige

Lykkelige is a Danish adjective meaning “happy” or “joyful.” It is the plural form of lykkelig, modifying nouns that are either collectively or plural in number (e.g., lykkelige børn, lykkelige familier). The word is derived from the noun lykké, itself coming from the Middle Danish word lycke, which is related to the Old Norse lykkja, meaning “fortune” or “blessing.” The root reflects a sense of well‑being or good fortune rather than emotional exhilaration alone. In modern usage lykkelig is frequently employed to describe a state of contentment or satisfaction, as in "Han følte sig lykkelig efter sejren." When expressing collective happiness or group experiences, the plural form lykkelige is used, such as in “De lykkelige fejrede kongeforholdets fornyede fred.”

Lykkelige is often found in idiomatic phrases. For example, "at være lykkelige sammen" indicates shared happiness, and “lykkelig geni” is a historical term used to describe a person considered fortunate or blessed. In idiomatic speech, "lykkelige" can be synonymous with “glade” (cheerful) or “fri for bekymringer” (free of worries), though these terms differ slightly in intensity.

In terms of grammatical construction, lykkelig and lykkelige are used predicatively with “at være” (to be), e.g., "De er lykkelige". As an attributive adjective, it precedes the noun it modifies. The word does not have masculine/feminine variations; the form remains consistent regardless of grammatical gender, because Danish adjectives are typically gender neutral in the definite form. The plural adjective “lykkelige” must agree with plural nouns.

The term is widespread in both contemporary Danish literature and everyday speech, signifying a positive emotional state tied to well‑being and societal contentment. It appears frequently in news reports describing public celebrations or in personal narratives describing a state of personal satisfaction.