usædvanligt

Usædvanligt is a Danish term used to describe something that is not common or out of the ordinary. In Danish, the word functions as both an adjective (usædvanlig) meaning unusual and an adverb (usædvanligt) meaning unusually. It is commonly used in everyday speech, journalism, and formal writing to emphasize rarity, surprise, or deviation from the norm.

Etymology and form. The word is built from the negating prefix u- attached to sædvanlig, meaning usual or customary. Sædvanlig derives from older North Germanic forms such as Old Danish sædvanligr, reflecting the sense of customary habit. The combination yields a straightforward negation: not usual.

Usage notes. Usædvanligt carries a neutral to slightly formal tone and is appropriate for describing events, behavior, or conditions that stand out from what is typical. It is often chosen when the speaker or writer wants to convey objective rarity rather than subjective judgment. In comparative constructions, it can co-occur with adjectives and other adverbs to modify their intensity, for example, “usædvanligt varmt” (unusually warm) or “usædvanligt roligt” (unusually calm).

Examples. Det var usædvanligt varmt i juli. Det her resultat er usædvanligt svært at forklare. Hun opførte sig usædvanligt roligt under pres.

See also. sædvanlig; usædvanlig; usædvanligt (adverb) in Danish usage.