This list is a collection over time of words found in Danish church books, as an aid in transcribing and translating those genealogical records. It consists mostly of the older spellings of Danish words, and for the most part does not include the simpler words (from, on, town, his, year, farmer, and so on), nor words that are obviously very similar in English (blind, familie).
If there are two spellings in an entry, the first is usually the older.
Examples of a word’s usage are given where helpful or interesting; these are in italics, and are indented under the definition of the main word.Plurals and definite article forms are indicated in parentheses following the English.
The letters æ, ø and å are distinct letters, and are filed in that order after z. Note that “aa” is usually the same as “å”, and thus is filed after z.
If you don’t find a word in the list alphabetically, try the “search” tool on your keyboard, as adjectives etc. may be defined under the noun it modifies. (See, for example, the definitions under kundskab.)
Also included are place names for Thisted amt (county), including spelling variations, though mostly for Vestervig parish.
Please feel free to offer corrections, alternative translations, elaborations, etc. in the comments at the end of each section!
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Habech = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Habæk)
handelsbetjent = shop assistant
Handrup = village in Vestervig parish
Harring = parish in Thisted
Hassing = district in Thisted
Hassing = parish in Thisted
Hedehuse = village in Vestervig parish
Hellerøe = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Hellerød)
hendes = her
herred = civil district
Hesselberg = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Hesselbjerg)
Hillerslev = civil civil district (herred) in Thisted
hjemmedøbt = home baptism
this was done in case of emergency, such as when the child was not expected to live, or sometimes if the weather made it impossible to get to the church; it had to be confirmed later in the church
hjertefejl = heart disease
hjulmand = wheelwright
Horsfeld = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Horsfelt)
hoste = cough
hovedgaard, hovedgård = manor
Hugom = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Hygum)
Hundborg = civil civil district (herred) in Thisted
Hundskier = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Hundskær)
huusbond, husbond = husband
huuseier, husejer = houseowner
huusfader, husfader = head of household, husband
"Huusfaderens søster, som er blind, og af ham forsørges,” the head of household’s sister, who is blind, and is supported/provided for by him
huusholderske, husholderske = housekeeper
huusiomfrue, husjomfru = housekeeper
huusmand, husmand, hmd. = small-holder, cotter
“jordløs husmand,” small-holder without land of his own
husstand = household
hustru, hust., hs., hstr. = wife
Hvidberg = parish in Thisted (modern spelling: Hvidbjerg)
hyrde = herdsman
høker = small shopkeeper
Hørdum = parish in Thisted
Hørsted = parish in Thisted
haandarbeide, håndarbejde = needlework
haandværker, håndværker = craftsman, artisan, workman
ikterus = jaundice, icterus
inderste = lodger in a house, tenant
indsidder = tenant farmer, renter, lodger in a room at a farm
indsidderske = tenant farmer, renter (female)
Ingesbjerg Høj = village in Vestervig parish
introduceret =
“Konen samme dag introduceret”, The woman [mother of the child] “introduced” at church the same day
Jandrup = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Janderup)
jomfru = maiden, Miss (not used of peasants)
jord = land
jordemoder = midwife
jordlod = land, plot
jordløs = landless
jordseddel, muldseddel = a certificate or confirmation from the probate authorities to the priest of the deceased’s parish, that they had received notification and registered the death; the priest was not allowed to bury the dead until the probate authorities had received such notification
kaldet = called
Kalkær = village in Vestervig parish
kammager = comb maker
Kappelgade = village in Vestervig parish
karetmager = coach builder
karl = farmhand
katar = catarrh
Kiallerup = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Kjallerup)
kighoste, tussis convulsiva = whooping cough, pertussis
kirkebetjent = sexton
kirkebog, KB. = parish register
“i KB”, written in the parish register
kirkegang = churching, the reintroduction to church and blessing of a mother after the birth of her child
“Samme Dag holdt Konen sin Kirkegang,” on the same day the mother had her churching
kirkegaard, kirkegård = church-yard, cemetery
kirkeværge = verger, church-warden
klodsmager = block maker
klorose = chlorosis
Kloster Mølle = village in Vestervig parish
kludesamler = ragman
kobbersmed = coppersmith
kokkepige = cook (lit. “cooking-girl”)
koldbrand = gangrene, cold gangrene, foot gangrene, necrosis
kone = wife, woman
“forriges kone,” previous wife
kontorist = clerk
kopper, børnekopper = smallpox
“har haft de naturlige Børnekopper,” has had the natural smallpox (as a child)
kopper-indpodnings attest = smallpox inoculation certificate
kornmåler = corn measurer
korporal = corporal
Kortegaard = village in Vestervig parish
krampetrækning = convulsions
Krik = village in Vestervig parish
Krik Vig = village in Vestervig parish
krone = a Danish coin, the highest in value
kræft = cancer
kundskab = religious knowledge, catechism (kundskaben, the knowledge)
“Udmærket af Kundskab og Opførsel,” excellent in knowledge and behavior
“God Kundskab og Opførsel,” good knowledge and behavior
“maadelig Kundskab, god Opførsel,” mediocre knowledge, good behavior
“Meget god saavel i Kundskab som Opførsel,” very good both in knowledge and behavior
“M.G. i begge Henseende,” very good in both terms
“Temelig god i Kundskaben, udmærket god i Opførsel,” fairly good in knowledge, excellent in behavior
kurvemager = basket maker
kusine = female cousin
kvinde, qvinde = woman, wife
kvindekiøn, quindekiøn = female gender
kvæle = choke
Kærgaarden = village in Vestervig parish
købmand = storekeeper
købstad = provincial town
lammelse = paralysis
lazareth, lazaret = military field hospital
lavværge, lv. = widow’s spokesman
lavværge or lauværge = a widow’s guardian who would be present with her during her deceased husband’s probate; widows had the privilege of choosing their own guardian, which was usually one of her brothers
Leegaard = place in Hassing district
Lemhøjvang = village in Vestervig parish
lever af = living by (also: ernærer sig ved)
“Lever af sine Hænders Gjerninger”
ligeledes = likewise, ditto
linnedvæver = linen weaver
lod = portion, share
Lodahl = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Lodal)
Lodbjerg = parish in Thisted
logerende = lodger, paying guest
lungebetændelse = pneumonia
lysning = banns
læge = doctor
lærling = pupil, apprentice
løbenummer, lbn. =
løjtnant = lieutnant
mand = man, husband (manden, the man; mænd, men)
mark = a Danish coin, between skilling and rigsdaler
matros = sailor
mavekneb, kolik = colic, gripes
mavekræft = stomach cancer
mavesyge = stomach complaint, diarrhea
-mester = master
mindreaarige, mindreårige = under age
moder = mother (moderen, the mother; mødre, mothers)
morbroder = maternal uncle, lit. “mother’s brother”
morfader, morfar = maternal grandfather, lit. “mother’s father”
mormoder, mormor = maternal grandmother, lit. “mother’s mother”
Morsø Nørre = civil civil district (herred) in Thisted
Morsø Sønder = civil district (herred) in Thisted
moster = aunt, lit. “mother’s sister”
murer = bricklayer, mason
myndig, myndige, myndigheds alderen = of legal age
myndigesluttet =
myndling = under the age of majority
mæslinger, meslinger, morbilli = measles
mølle = mill
møller = miller
Møllerhuset = in Vestervig parish
måned = month (måneder, months)
“mdr.,” months
nemlig = namely
nevø = nephew
niece = niece
niende, 9de = ninth
nittende, 19de = nineteenth
nuhavende, nuværende = present [at an occasion]
nummer, nr. = number
Nytaarsdag = New Year’s Day
Nørbo = village in Vestervig parish
Nørhaae = place in Hassing district (modern spelling: Nørhaa)
nørre, nr. = northern
nålemager = needle maker
oldefader = great-grandfather (generic)
oldemoder = great-grandmother (generic)
område = region
opførsel = behavior, manners (see examples under kundskab)
ophold, opholdssted = residence
opsidder = farm manager
ottende, 8de = eighth
overformynderiet = guardianship records
Oksenbøl = village in Vestervig parish
opholdskone = pensioner upon her own farm; retired from work, pensioner (female/wife)
opholdsmand = pensioner upon his own farm; retired from work, pensioner
paralysering = paralysis
pen = pen (for writing with)
“m.f.P., med ført Pen,” with guided pen. This abbreviation usually appears under the signatures of those witnessing the probate, who either could not write or just needed help with writing.
“m.p.P., med påholden Pen,” with guided pen
penning = the smallest Danish coin
pest = plague
pige = girl (pigen, the girl; en pige, a girl; pigene, the girls)
used for female children and unmarried girls
“gl. pigen,” spinster (lit. “the old girl”)
pigebarn = girl baby
pleiebarn, plejebarn = foster child (plejebørn, foster children)
pleiedatter, plejedatter = foster daughter
pleiesøn, plejesøn = foster son
pottemager = potter
præst = priest
præstegaard, præstegård = parsonage
Paaske, Påske = Easter
