måneskin
[ˈmɔːnəˌsɡenˀ]neuter
The English word "moonlight" is translated into Danish as måneskin.
måneskin is used to refer to the light reflected from the Moon. For example, you can use the phrase blidt måneskin to mean "gentle moonlight".
Meaning: light reflected from the Moon (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of måne, meaning "moon" and skin, meaning "shine" or "light".
How does it change in a sentence?
måneskin is a neuter noun. It is used in its indefinite form when referring to moonlight in a general or uncountable sense. To say "the moonlight", you add the definite suffix -et to the end of the word to form måneskinnet.
Did you know?
- In Danish, the word skin can refer to 'light' as in måneskin, but it also means 'skin' or 'hide' as in leather. The meaning is determined entirely by the context of the sentence.
- The Danish word måne for 'moon' is closely related to the word for 'measure' in older Germanic dialects. This reflects the historical use of the moon as a primary tool for tracking time.
- In Danish poetry and romantic literature, måneskin is often paired with sølv meaning 'silver' to emphasize the metallic, shimmering quality of the night sky.
Examples in context
- Tom og Mary gik på stranden i måneskinnet.Tom and Mary walked on the beach in the moonlight.This sentence shows how to use the form måneskin in a context of walking on a beach.Tatoeba #6146197 by danepo, translation #5794291 by Eccles17
- Måneskinnet er smukt.The moonlight is beautiful.This sentence demonstrates how to use the form måneskin to describe the beauty of the light.Tatoeba #10727554 by SeaLiteral, translation #2045786 by CK
- Når månelyset danser på vandet, føles verden magisk.When the moonlight dances on the water, the world feels magical.
- Det er svært at se i det svage måneskin.It is difficult to see in the faint moonlight.
Example conversation
Mads and Mette are standing on a balcony at night.
- MadsSe, hvor flot måneskin der er i nat!Look, how beautiful the moonlight is tonight!
- MetteJa, det lyser næsten hele haven op.Yes, it almost lights up the whole garden.
- MadsSkal vi gå en tur i måneskinnet?Shall we take a walk in the moonlight?
- MetteDet lyder som en god idé, Mads.That sounds like a good idea, Mads.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moonlight” translations and entries måneskin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
