makr.dk

43 great Danish words under threat

The newspaper Politiken has published an article about a number of Danish words that are at risk of being removed from the Retskrivningsordbogen (Danish Spelling Dictionary). The argument is apparently that they are on their way out of the Danish language.
To stave off that fate, here is a short story featuring 43 endangered words and 150 non-endangered words.
If everyone uses 25 per cent endangered words in their sentences, everything will be fine.

Last year, Peter, that stubborn scoundrel, got his girlfriend pregnant on the sly. However, Peter and his girlfriend Magda were unable to conceal the pregnancy, and so a wedding and a lavish celebration had to be held.
Magda, who was a posh, snobbish sort, set to work with a wedding invitation and a guest list. The family was a motley crew. Peter’s mother was a pale, sickly old hag; his father a wooden-headed, twisted drunkard. Magda’s parents were both old fogies. Her mother was a flighty woman and her father a layabout who was constantly loitering about. Peter’s family also included his brother, a dashing rake; his sister, who was a fussy young lady; and his grandmother, who was a cantankerous old woman. Magda also invited her older brother, who was a lazy good-for-nothing, and her younger brother, the spoiled rascal.
Magda’s friend was easy-going, and Magda didn’t miss the chance to put her to work washing the party clothes. It was quite a task to get all the preparations done, and every evening Magda was exhausted and grumpy. Peter had to be patient with his fiancée.
The wedding was a great success, with no real cause for complaint. The hungry guests were promptly served ‘negerkys’, even a disreputable charlatan who had sneaked in.

Glossary:
Bajads – a thief, a clown
Blegsotig – dreary, lacking in impact
Brødflov – hungry, peckish
Charlatan – swindler
Djærv – outspoken
Dorsk – sluggish, lazy
Dosmerseddel – reminder note
Døgenigt – a lazy and good-for-nothing person
I dølgsmål – in secret
Fjæle – to hide
Flanere - to loiter idly
Flottenhejmer - a spendthrift with expensive habits
Fløs - a scoundrel
Forfjor – the year before last
Forskertse – to squander
Forsoren – cheeky, cheerful, a live wire
Forvorpen – cheeky
Fusentast – a frivolous and unscrupulous person
Gebommerlig – colossal, immense
Gelassen – excessively willing and helpful
Halsstarrig – stubborn
Idelig – incessant
Kalas - a grand and lavish party
Kanalje - a cheeky and ill-mannered person, a scoundrel
Knibsk - dismissive, prudish
Knarvorn – grumpy, surly
Kålhøgen – conceited
Langmodig – patient
Misliebig – suspicious
Mødig – tired, battered
Negerbolle, negerkys – cream bun
Obsternasig – defiant, stubborn
Skellig – valid, reasonable
Sporenstregs – immediate, straight away
Spæge – to control or tame
Svanger – pregnant
Sysselsætte – to employ
Træsk – devious, cunning
Trættekær – grumpy, quarrelsome
Tvætte – to wash
Ufortøvet – immediate, straight away
Vindbøjtel – a person who changes their stance depending on what pays off best; a braggart
Ødeland – a person who squanders their money