folketing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Political
Quick answer
What does “folketing” mean?
The unicameral national parliament of Denmark.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The unicameral national parliament of Denmark.
The supreme legislative body in Denmark, historically the lower house of the Danish parliament when it was bicameral until 1953. The name is also used to refer to a specific session or period of this parliament.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. British English may show slightly more familiarity due to geographical proximity and shared EU/European political discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of Scandinavian social democracy, proportional representation, and consensual politics.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general English. Exclusively found in contexts discussing Danish politics, Nordic studies, or comparative government.
Grammar
How to Use “folketing” in a Sentence
The Folketing [verb: passed, voted, convened]A member of the FolketingElections to the FolketingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “folketing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The coalition will attempt to folketing the proposal through its final reading. (Note: Extremely rare, non-standard verbal use)
American English
- (No standard verbal form in American English)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- The Folketing chamber was designed for debate.
- Folketing elections are held every four years.
American English
- She is a leading Folketing correspondent for the news service.
- Folketing procedure differs from that of the US Congress.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in reports on Danish regulatory changes: 'The new law passed by the Folketing affects export tariffs.'
Academic
Common in political science, European studies, and history texts: 'The 1924 election marked a turning point for the Social Democrats in the Folketing.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation outside Denmark.
Technical
Used precisely in legal and political documents referencing Danish constitutional law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “folketing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “folketing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “folketing”
- Incorrect: 'a Folketing' (usually used without an article).
- Incorrect: 'Folketing Parliament' (redundant).
- Incorrect: Using lowercase ('folketing') – it is a proper noun.
- Misspelling: 'Folkting', 'Folketting'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a proper noun and should always be capitalized, similar to 'Parliament' when referring to a specific institution.
In English, it is commonly approximated as FOLK-uh-ting. The original Danish pronunciation is closer to ['fʌlkəˌteŋ].
It is most commonly used with the definite article 'the Folketing', similar to 'the Senate' or 'the House of Commons'.
Historically, the Rigsdag was the name for the entire bicameral Danish parliament (Folketing and Landsting). Since 1953, Denmark has had a unicameral system, and the Folketing is now the sole parliamentary chamber.
The unicameral national parliament of Denmark.
Folketing is usually formal, political in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common English idioms feature this specific term.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FOLK' (the people) + 'TING' (Old Norse for assembly). It's the 'People's Assembly' of Denmark.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FOLKETING IS A CONTAINER FOR DEMOCRACY (e.g., 'voices within the Folketing', 'power resides in the Folketing').
Practice
Quiz
What is the Folketing?