sandsynligt

Sandsynligt is a Danish word that functions as both an adjective and an adverb, meaning "likely" or "probable." It is used to express probability about an event or outcome given available evidence, rather than mere plausibility.

Etymology and cognates: The term is formed with the Danish suffix -lig, meaning "having the character of," and is related to the idea of truth or certainty. It has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, including Norwegian sannsynlig and Swedish sannolik, which share a similar meaning.

Usage and examples: As an adjective, sandsynligt describes a noun phrase, for example Et sandsynligt resultat (a likely result). As a predicative expression, it appears in clauses such as Det er sandsynligt, at han kommer (It is likely that he will come). In more formal or statistical contexts, the word can appear in assessments of probability and forecasts, often preceding subordinate clauses introduced by at.

Nuance and related terms: Sandsynligt conveys a sense of probability based on available evidence, typically stronger than mere plausibility but not as certain as a definite outcome. Related terms include formodentlig or formentlig (probably) and usandsynligt (unlikely), as well as cognates in Norwegian and Swedish. The choice among these terms depends on the degree of certainty and the speaker’s assessment of evidence.

See also: Danish vocabulary related to probability and evidence, and the cross-language cognates sannolik/sannsynlig in the Scandinavian languages.