udgangen

Udgangen is a Danish noun meaning the exit or the way out. It can refer to a physical exit from a building or space, the act of leaving a place, or, in a broader sense, a figurative way out of a situation. The definite form udgangen is used when speaking of a specific exit, while the indefinite form is en udgang.

Etymology and related forms: Udgangen derives from ud- meaning outward and gang meaning going or a path. It has cognates in neighboring Scandinavian languages, such as utgangen in Swedish and utgangen or utgangen in Norwegian, all reflecting the same basic idea of leaving or a way out.

Usage: In everyday Danish, udgangen is used to indicate the exit, for example find udgangen or “the exit is this way.” Signs in buildings typically display UDGANG in uppercase; specific exits may be labeled nødudgangen for emergency exits. In phrases, udgangen can also be used metaphorically to describe a solution or escape from a dilemma, though more precise expressions like en udvej or en løsning are common. The plural form is udgange, and the definite plural is udgangene.

Safety and terminology: In safety contexts, emergency exits are often described with nødudgang or flugtvej (escape route), with udgangen referring to the door or route itself. Proper signage and accessibility considerations are standard in public and commercial spaces to ensure a clear and unobstructed udgang.

See also: exit (international term), nødudgang (emergency exit), flugtrute (escape route).

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