What does “vanvittig” mean in Danish?

Vanvittig sportsommer: fra Tour de France til tragedier

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B2 Danish listening practice · Danish · Picked for people who know more

💡 Did you know?
vanvittig
adjective · Danish
“insane, crazy, wild (as praise or as shock)”

A summer sports round-up opens by calling the season exactly what it was: «Det har været en vanvittigt sportsommer» (“it’s been an insane sports summer”). Vanvittig means “insane, crazy, mad,” but Danes use it the way English uses “insane” as an intensifier: “vanvittig god” (“insanely good”), a vanvittig comeback, a vanvittig price.

Literally it’s “out of one’s wits” (van- + vittig), and it swings both ways, wonderful or alarming. The clip earns it, packing Tour de France drama, a wrestling legend’s death, and a women’s Euro final into a few minutes. It’s the everyday Danish dial for “this is off the scale.”

How common are the words?

How common are the words in this B2 Danish listening practice video?

90.3%
of words are in the top 2,000 most common Danish words
Most of the words in this video are common Danish words.

How common in written Danish

83.5%
Top 1,000
90.3%
Top 2,000
96.1%
Top 5,000

How common in spoken Danish

91%
Top 1,000
97.2%
Top 2,000
100%
Top 5,000
👄 Words for talking
This video uses words people often say in Danish.

Harder words in this video

These words are harder than B2. Here is what they mean.

jota
7×
Not in top 5,000
acronym
bmx
5×
Not in top 5,000
(acronym) BMX — bicycle type

Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · OpenSubtitles 2018 (HermitDave) (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.

★Where you hear this
  • ▸Danish sports coverage on DR and TV 2 Sport.
  • ▸Tour de France summers fronted by Danish hero Jonas Vingegaard.
  • ▸Danish reaction videos and reviews, where “vanvittig god” is the top rating.
  • ▸In Danish football and handball commentary at a big moment.

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