pludselig

Pludselig is a Danish adverb meaning "suddenly" or "abruptly." It describes events that occur without warning or preparation. As an adjective, it can describe a noun as being sudden, as in en pludselig ændring (“a sudden change”).

Usage is versatile. It typically accompanies verbs to express sudden action, for example: Hun stoppede pludselig. Det begyndte pludselig at regne. The word is common in both spoken and written Danish, including news, fiction, and everyday conversation. Pludselig can also function in attributive position to describe a noun with a sense of immediacy, as in a pludselig ændring or en pludselig begivenhed.

Etymology is not widely documented in concise reference works, but pludselig is treated as a native Danish formation used to convey abruptness or immediacy in time and events. It is part of standard Danish vocabulary and appears across registers, from journalism to literature and casual speech.

In usage guidance, pludselig conveys a strong sense of unanticipatedness and is often contrasted with gradual or gradualistic expressions. It is generally placed before the infinitive or after the finite verb, depending on emphasis and sentence structure.