rigtig

Rigtig is a Danish adjective meaning real, genuine, proper, or correct. It is widely used as an intensifier before adjectives and adverbs, roughly equivalent to really or very in English. Common collocations include rigtig god (really good), rigtig interessant (very interesting), and rigtig meget (very much). It can also modify nouns to denote authenticity, as in en rigtig ven (a real/true friend).

Etymology and cognates: Rigtig derives from North Germanic roots connected to the idea of right or proper. It is cognate with the Norwegian form riktig and related to the Swedish word rätt, reflecting a common linguistic heritage. In Danish, the sense extends from correctness to genuine quality, shaping everyday usage across a range of contexts.

Usage notes: As an intensifier, rigtig commonly precedes the adjective or adverb it modifies. It also appears in fixed phrases such as rigtig nok (indeed, quite so) and rigtig meget (a great deal). In more formal contexts, some speakers opt for synonyms like virkelig for a stronger emphasis, but rigtig remains a staple in conversational Danish and informal writing.

Cross-language context: The Norwegian spelling most closely related to Danish is riktig, with similar meanings and uses. The broader North Germanic family shares the core sense of right, proper, and genuine, though spelling and some usage preferences vary by language. Rigtig therefore functions as a versatile, everyday word in Danish, bridging notions of correctness and authenticity.