Vanvittig sportsommer: fra Tour de France til tragedier

What does “vanvittig” mean in Danish?

A summer sports round-up opens by calling the season exactly what it was: «Det har været en vanvittigt sportsommer» (“it’s been an insane sports summer”). Vanvittig means “insane, crazy, mad,” but Danes use it the way English uses “insane” as an intensifier: “vanvittig god” (“insanely good”), a vanvittig comeback, a vanvittig price.

Literally it’s “out of one’s wits” (van- + vittig), and it swings both ways, wonderful or alarming. The clip earns it, packing Tour de France drama, a wrestling legend’s death, and a women’s Euro final into a few minutes. It’s the everyday Danish dial for “this is off the scale.”