Learn Danish: What 'noieren' means in daily conversation

Learning informal Danish helps you understand everyday local conversations.

A common slang word you will hear is noieren.

It describes a creepy, eerie, or unsettling feeling.

It can also mean paranoia or anxiety.

The word is frequently used in text messages and TV shows.

According to news outlet The Local, it entered popular culture decades ago.

The slang comes from the word noia.

Noia is short for paranoia.

Danish youth started using noia around 1992.

Around the year 2000, people added the suffix eren.

This is the same ending used in words like nederen and grineren.

Nederen means bummer, while grineren means hilarious.

You can use noieren as an adjective or a noun.

As an adjective, it means creepy or freaky.

For example, locals say it when describing a dark alley.

As a noun, it describes getting the creeps.

Danes often say at få noieren på in casual chats.

They also say at have noieren over.