Hun føler sig sikker, når hun ved, at der ikke er nogen fejl i planen.

She feels safe when she knows that there are no mistakes in the plan.

Breakdown of Hun føler sig sikker, når hun ved, at der ikke er nogen fejl i planen.

• i: in
• være: to be
• når: when
• hun: she

Questions & Answers about Hun føler sig sikker, når hun ved, at der ikke er nogen fejl i planen.

Why do we say "Hun føler sig sikker" and not just "Hun føler sikker" or "Hun er sikker"?

In Danish, when you talk about how someone feels (emotionally or physically), you very often use "føler sig + adjective".

• "Hun føler sig sikker" = She feels confident / secure.
• "Hun føler sikker" is incorrect; after "føler" you need either:
  • a reflexive pronoun (sig) plus an adjective, or
  • a noun or some other complement (e.g. Hun føler smerte – She feels pain).

"Hun er sikker" is grammatically fine but slightly different in nuance:

• "Hun er sikker" usually means She is sure / certain (about something).
• "Hun føler sig sikker" emphasizes her internal feeling of security or confidence, not just intellectual certainty.

So "føler sig sikker" focuses on her felt state, not just a logical conclusion.

What exactly does the reflexive pronoun "sig" do in "føler sig"?