utroligt

Utroligt is a Danish adjective meaning unbelievable, incredible, or astonishing. It is used to describe things that provoke disbelief or admiration and can express strong evaluation in both spoken and written Danish. The word often appears in everyday conversation as well as in journalism and literature to emphasize how remarkable a person, event, or situation is.

In usage, utroligt typically functions as a descriptive modifier and can appear in phrases that convey surprise, such as "Det var utroligt," meaning "That was unbelievable." A common fixed expression is "utroligt nok," used to introduce surprising facts in a way equivalent to "believe it or not" in English.

Etymology and cognates: Utroligt belongs to a family of Scandinavian adjectives with close equivalents in neighboring languages. In Norwegian, the corresponding word is "utrolig," and in Swedish the cognate is "otrolig." These forms share a similar meaning and usage, reflecting common Germanic roots across the region.

Nuance and usage notes: Utroligt can carry a positive or negative nuance depending on context. It often conveys a strong impression of extraordinariness or improbability. In some contexts, speakers might choose synonyms such as fantastisk, ekstraordinær, or bemærkelsesværdig to adjust tone or formality.

See also: Danish language, Scandinavian languages, adjectives and adverbs in Danish, language usage in media.