nuværende

Nuværende is an adjective in Danish that means present, current, or existing at the moment being referred to. It is used to describe something that exists or occurs now, distinguishing it from past or future states. The term often appears in formal writing as well as everyday speech, conveying a sense of immediacy and state at a specific reference time.

Origin and cognates: Nuværende is formed from nu, meaning now, and værende, the present participle of være, to be. The combination conveys “being now.” The word has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as nåværende in Norwegian and nuvarande (nuvarande) in Swedish, reflecting common Germanic roots.

Usage: In Danish, nuværende can be used both attributively before a noun and, in more formal contexts, predicatively with a linking verb. Common examples include den nuværende regering (the current government), det nuværende problem (the present problem), and de nuværende forhold (the current conditions). In everyday language, other terms such as aktuel or aktuelt may be used to express a closely related sense of contemporaneity.

Nuances: Nuværende carries a formal or administrative register and is typical in legal, political, or descriptive contexts. It emphasizes the state as of the present time rather than merely the present moment. For more colloquial speech, speakers might opt for synonyms with similar but slightly different connotations.

Cross-linguistic note: Danish nuværende corresponds to Norwegian nåværende and Swedish nuvarande, reflecting shared Germanic heritage and similar meanings across the region.