Ordet er svært at forstå uden hjælp.

The word is difficult to understand without help.

Breakdown of Ordet er svært at forstå uden hjælp.

• være: to be
• at: to
• forstå: to understand
• ordet: the word
• svært: difficult
• uden: without
• hjælpen: the help

Questions & Answers about Ordet er svært at forstå uden hjælp.

Why is Ordet in the definite form instead of using et ord?

In Danish, adding the suffix -et makes ord (word) into its definite form: ordet (the word). The indefinite form is et ord (a word), while the definite form is ordet (the word).

Why is svært used instead of other Danish words for hard/difficult, such as hårdt?

In Danish, svært applies more to intellectual or abstract difficulty, whereas hårdt often conveys physical hardness or toughness. For understanding something, svært is the most natural choice.

What does at before forstå indicate?

In Danish, at is the infinitive marker. Whenever you have an infinitive verb that follows certain adjectives (like svært), you typically put at right before the verb. So at forstå means "to understand."

Can uden hjælp be replaced with something like uden at hjælpe?

Not exactly. uden hjælp (without help) is a noun phrase referring to help as a thing, while uden at hjælpe would mean "without helping," emphasizing the act of helping rather than the assistance itself.

How do I pronounce the letter æ in svært?

The æ sound in Danish is somewhat like the "a" in the English word cat or "e" in "bed," but a bit more open. Try keeping your mouth slightly wider and your tongue a bit lower than when pronouncing the short "e" in English.