Danish word of the day: What is a tidsoptimist?
The Danish word tidsoptimist describes people who underestimate time and run late, offering a charming way to excuse lateness.
2026年10月8日
/ DANGDI / DANGDI / DANGDI /If you deal with late people in Denmark, the word tidsoptimist explains why.
A tidsoptimist translates directly to a time optimist.
This term describes someone who underestimates how long tasks will take.
They overestimate how much time they actually have available.
Because of this habit, a tidsoptimist is usually late to everything.
The word was first recorded in Denmark back in 1949.
It combines the Danish word tid for time and optimist.
Other Scandinavian languages also use this exact concept today.
You can use it as a noun or an adjective.
The adjective form of the word is tidsoptimistisk.
People use this word as a charming way to describe lateness.
Lateness can be frustrating and disrespectful in local daily life.
However, calling someone a tidsoptimist softens the overall blow.
It acknowledges that the late person had positive intentions.
They simply held an unrealistic idea of how time passes.
You might wonder about the opposite word, tidspessimist or time pessimist.
Danes will understand tidspessimist if you say it to them.
However, tidspessimist is far less common in daily conversation.
Learning this word helps you navigate social relationships in Denmark better.
The word gives you a gentle way to explain your own lateness.
According to news outlet The Local Denmark, everyone can relate to this word.
Source: The Local Denmark
