næsten

Næsten is a common Danish adverb meaning almost or nearly. It signals that something is very close to being true, happening, or being the case, but is not quite there. The word is versatile and can modify adjectives, adverbs, or verbs, making it a frequent part of both spoken and written Danish.

Etymology and cognates: Næsten is cognate with Swedish nästan and Norwegian nesten. It derives from Proto-Germanic roots related to proximity or nearness, and it belongs to a family of words used to express closeness across the Scandinavian languages. The form and meaning are stable across Danish usage, though the exact nuance can shift with context.

Usage and examples: Næsten typically precedes the word it modifies, as in næsten færdig (almost finished) or næsten alle (almost all). It can also modify verbs in constructions that express near-miss or near-certainty, for example Jeg nåede næsten at se ham (I almost managed to see him). In phrases with negation, it is common to use næsten to convey a sense of difficulty or improbability, such as Jeg kan næsten ikke høre dig (I can hardly hear you). The nuance of næsten can range from near-complete approximation to practical certainty, depending on the context.

Translations and nuance: The primary English equivalents are almost and nearly. In certain contexts, næsten can convey “hardly” or “practically,” and its exact sense may depend on accompanying words and the broader sentence structure. As a frequent adverb in Danish, næsten appears in everyday speech as well as formal writing.