uheld

Uheld is a Danish noun meaning an unforeseen, unwanted event that causes damage or injury. It is commonly translated as accident or mishap and describes a wide range of incidents, from a minor slip to a traffic crash. The term focuses on the event itself rather than assigning fault.

The word is derived from the prefix u- meaning not and held meaning fortune or luck, literally "no luck." In Danish usage, uheld is often contrasted with ulykke, which can carry connotations of greater severity or fate rather than a specific incident. Uheld tends to refer to incidental damage or harm rather than a deliberate act.

In everyday language, people say "få et uheld" (to have an accident) or "et trafikulykke" (a traffic accident). Uheld can refer to personal injuries, property damage, or both, and does not necessarily imply blame. In insurance and legal contexts, the term denotes the incident that may trigger a claim, and reporting an uheld is a common procedural step.

Common collocations include uheld i trafikken, uheldsskade (accident damage), and at undgå uheld (to avoid mishaps). Overall, uheld is a broad, neutral term for unplanned, unwanted events causing harm or loss, distinct from more severe notions of disaster or fate.