This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English to Danish
  3. Slang

tough guy

Danish translation: farlig kal

01:31 Jun 6, 2007
English to Danish translations [PRO]
Slang / Danish youth, college and street slang
English term or phrase: tough guy
Hello. I'm interested in and am doing research on Danish youth, street and college slang. What is Danish slang for "tough guy" besides "En hård banan"? Please let me know. Thank you. :D
Mavericker (X)
Danish translation:farlig kal
Explanation:
Here's one. Originally "farlig karl" but the "r" got lost along the way.
Hope this helps.... :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 33 mins (2007-06-06 02:05:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Well, there are a number of expressions that are similar, such as "farlig fyr", "børste", "hård børste", "bisse", "skrap fyr", "hård fyr", "barsk fyr" and "hård negl" as suggested by Blangsted

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days22 hrs (2007-06-09 23:36:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hi Mavericker, I'm sorry - don't know Norwegian slang. I think the Norwegian terms will be quite different.
Selected response from:

Jens Kaestel
Australia
Local time: 07:20
Grading comment
Thank you-I like the answers given. :D
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4sej fyr
lisevs
5 -1farlig kal
Jens Kaestel
4 -1hård negl
Suzanne Blangsted (X)


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
hård negl


Explanation:
ordbogen.com
mit forslag

Suzanne Blangsted (X)
Local time: 14:20
Native speaker of: Native in DanishDanish, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Charlotte Corty: nok ikke så udbredt blandt unge
9 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
sej fyr


Explanation:
another suggestion.

I think this is a little more up-to-date

somebody even made a nice drawing of this guy:



    Reference: http://www.tegnebordet.dk/index.php?vis=brugergalleri.php&st...
lisevs
Local time: 23:20
Native speaker of: Danish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Jens Kaestel: I checked with some teenagers, who confirmed that this is more a "cool guy", as in wearing the latest fashion, having a fancy hair doo, being popular and being with the "in crowd".
52 mins
agree  Jande: Sej, Det er hvad jeg forstod som tough. Tough guy can also mean "cool guy" in English too. You don't hear teenagers saying Tough Guy in English any more either. Go the Fonz!
16 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
farlig kal


Explanation:
Here's one. Originally "farlig karl" but the "r" got lost along the way.
Hope this helps.... :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 33 mins (2007-06-06 02:05:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Well, there are a number of expressions that are similar, such as "farlig fyr", "børste", "hård børste", "bisse", "skrap fyr", "hård fyr", "barsk fyr" and "hård negl" as suggested by Blangsted

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days22 hrs (2007-06-09 23:36:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hi Mavericker, I'm sorry - don't know Norwegian slang. I think the Norwegian terms will be quite different.

Jens Kaestel
Australia
Local time: 07:20
Native speaker of: Native in DanishDanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you-I like the answers given. :D
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you. Can you think of any others?

Asker: Hello Jens-thank you for responding. Do you know anything about Norwegian? I know that Danish and NOrwegian are very similiar-can I assume there are similiar terms for "tough guy" in Norwegian?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Lingua DK: I wouldn't leave out the "r" in "karl". You may pronounce it like that, but if you google, you will find that the few hits are not the most trustworthy ones. I like all your other suggestions much more.
4 hrs
  -> Hmm, I see your point; my reason for listing the version without "r" was that it's more "street slang" in my view, while the version with "r" is the more "correct" term. Anyway, it gives Mavericker more choice... :-)
neutral  NetLynx: Agree with Lingua as to 'farlig kal'; even with an r, I think this very proposal should be ruled out, as it can be said of one's own kids. The other suggestions are fine, and you could add 'barsk nitte' and 'hård nitte'.
7 hrs
  -> As far as I'm aware, you can also use "tough guy" about your kids / use it in a sarcastic way about someone, who is definately not a "real" tough guy. In that respect I see the two terms as similar.
disagree  Charlotte Corty: Vi er noget tilbage i tiden her
9 hrs
  -> Well, I asked some teenagers and they nominated "hård fyr" as the present day term.... ;-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search