skärp

Skærp is a Danish verb in its imperative form, used as a directive to make something sharper or more precise. In everyday use it often means to physically sharpen an object, such as a knife or blade, but it can also be used figuratively to refer to improving skills, focus, or readiness.

The base verb is skærpe, and skærp is the present-imperative form directed at a single person or a general imperative. The verb forms in standard Danish follow regular patterns: present tense skærper, past tense skærpede, and the past participle skærpet. The infinitive is at skærpe, and the passive or derived forms follow common Danish conjugation rules.

Common usages include both literal and metaphorical contexts. Literal: Skærp kniven. (Sharpen the knife.) Skærp værktøjet før arbejdet. Figurative: Skærp din fokus til eksamen. (Sharpen your focus for the exam.) Virksomheder taler ofte om at skærpe konkurrencedygtigheden ved at forbedre processer og produkter. Imperative constructions can appear as skærp! in concise or directive signage, or more commonly as part of a longer clause, such as "Skærp dig" meaning “pull yourself together” or "Skærp fokus" meaning “sharpen focus.”

Etymology and related forms are part of the broader Scandinavian verb family for sharpening or intensifying. While skærp primarily appears as the imperative, its root skærpe is used across tenses to express sharpening in both physical and metaphorical senses.