Betragte is a slightly formal, very useful verb that English speakers tend to map onto "consider" — and then misuse, because Danish splits that single English word across three different verbs. This page fixes the principal parts in your memory and then draws the line between betragte, overveje and anse for, so you always reach for the right one.
Principal parts
Betragte is a regular weak verb of the -ede class. It conjugates predictably, with no vowel change.
| Infinitive | Present | Past | Past participle | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| at betragte | betragter | betragtede | betragtet | betragt! |
The perfect is formed with har: har betragtet. This is a transitive verb — it describes a mental or visual act done to an object, not a movement of the subject — so it never takes være in the perfect.
Sense 1: regard / consider as — betragte ... som
The most common use of betragte is to classify something — to say what category you mentally place it in. The fixed frame is betragte X som Y, "regard X as Y." The preposition som ("as") is obligatory and cannot be dropped.
Jeg betragter ham som en ven.
I regard him as a friend.
Mange betragter hende som landets bedste forfatter.
Many consider her the country's best author.
Vi betragter sagen som afsluttet.
We consider the matter closed.
Notice that in the last example som attaches to an adjective (afsluttet, "closed/finished"), not a noun. That is fine — betragte ... som takes either, exactly as English "regard ... as" does.
Sense 2: observe / watch closely — betragte (no som)
Without som, betragte shifts to its literal, physical meaning: to look at something attentively, to study it with your eyes. It is more deliberate and more written than everyday kigge på ("look at"). A scientist, a critic, or a narrator betragter; a child at a window kigger.
Hun stod længe og betragtede maleriet.
She stood for a long time observing the painting.
Drengen betragtede insektet med stor nysgerrighed.
The boy observed the insect with great curiosity.
Lad os betragte problemet fra en anden vinkel.
Let us consider the problem from a different angle.
That third sentence is the bridge between the two senses: "examine, look at intellectually." It is the natural verb for opening an academic argument — Lad os betragte ... ("Let us examine ...") is a register-marked, (academic) way to begin.
Betragte vs overveje vs anse for vs kigge på
This is where the English word "consider" leads learners astray. Danish keeps four ideas apart:
| Verb | Core meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| betragte ... som | regard/classify X as Y (a settled view) | neutral–formal |
| anse ... for | regard/deem X as Y (more formal, near-synonym) | formal |
| overveje | consider = weigh, ponder, mull over a decision | neutral |
| kigge på | look at (everyday, casual) | informal |
The crucial split is betragte/anse (a standing judgement you already hold) versus overveje (an open question you are still turning over). "I'm considering buying a car" is Jeg overvejer at købe en bil — never betragter, because nothing is being classified; a decision is being weighed.
Jeg overvejer at skifte job.
I'm considering changing jobs.
Jeg betragter mit job som midlertidigt.
I regard my job as temporary.
Anse ... for is the near-twin of betragte ... som, but stiffer — note it takes for, not som. You will meet it in legal and official prose: Ansøgningen anses for modtaget ("The application is deemed received"). In everyday speech, betragte ... som is the safer choice. See anse for that verb in detail.
The reflexive betragte sig som
A particularly common pattern is the reflexive betragte sig som — "regard oneself as," "see oneself as." Here the object is the reflexive pronoun (mig, dig, sig, os, jer), and it is the standard way to talk about identity and self-image. English uses the same structure ("I consider myself ..."), so the mapping is direct; just remember that Danish sig covers third person singular and plural alike.
Hun betragter sig selv som kunstner, ikke som håndværker.
She sees herself as an artist, not as a craftsperson.
De betragter sig som en del af lokalsamfundet.
They regard themselves as part of the local community.
The added selv in the first example ("self") is optional emphasis — betragter sig som and betragter sig selv som are both correct; selv simply underlines that the judgement is self-directed.
Register and the passive
Betragte leans formal, and it is especially at home in the passive, where Danish has two options: the -s passive (betragtes) and the blive-passive (bliver betragtet). The -s form is tighter and more (academic); the blive form is the neutral everyday choice.
Reglen betragtes i dag som forældet.
The rule is today regarded as outdated.
Han bliver betragtet som en af de førende eksperter.
He is regarded as one of the leading experts.
For a learner, the takeaway is that betragte signals a considered, slightly elevated tone. In a casual text message you would write Jeg ser ham som en ven ("I see him as a friend") rather than Jeg betragter ham som en ven — both are correct, but se ... som is the relaxed register and betragte ... som the measured one.
Common Mistakes
❌ Jeg betragter ham en god leder.
Incorrect — the linking som is missing.
✅ Jeg betragter ham som en god leder.
I regard him as a good leader.
❌ Jeg betragter at sælge huset.
Incorrect — for a decision you are weighing, use overveje, not betragte.
✅ Jeg overvejer at sælge huset.
I'm considering selling the house.
❌ Han betragter ham som for skyldig.
Incorrect — som and for have been mixed; betragte takes som, anse takes for.
✅ Han betragter ham som skyldig.
He regards him as guilty.
❌ Vi har betragtede problemet grundigt.
Incorrect — the past participle is betragtet; betragtede is the simple past and cannot follow har.
✅ Vi har betragtet problemet grundigt.
We have examined the problem thoroughly.
❌ Børnene betragteder fuglene.
Incorrect — there is no -eder ending; the present is betragter, the past betragtede.
✅ Børnene betragter fuglene.
The children are watching the birds.
Key Takeaways
- Principal parts: betragte – betragter – betragtede – betragtet; perfect always with har.
- betragte ... som = classify/regard as (the som is non-negotiable).
- Bare betragte = observe, look at closely; opens academic arguments as Lad os betragte ....
- For a decision still being weighed, switch to overveje; for stiff formal "deem," to anse ... for.
Now practice Danish
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Start learning Danish→Related Topics
- AnseB2 — How to conjugate and use anse (to consider, regard, deem), a formal strong verb following the se pattern.
- SeA2 — Full reference for the strong verb se ('to see'), including se ud, se på, and the reciprocal vi ses.
- Verb + Preposition ReferenceB2 — An alphabetical reference of the high-frequency Danish verb + preposition pairs where the Danish preposition differs from the one English would use — bede om, vente på, tænke på, glæde sig til, and more.