gengæld

Danish

Etymology

Equivalent to gen- (“re-”) +‎ gæld (“pay”). From Old Danish gengiald (“repay”), compare Old Norse aptrgjald.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡɛn.ɡɛlˀ/, [ˈɡ̊ɛnˌɡ̊ɛlˀ]

Noun

gengæld c (singular definite gengælden, not used in plural form)

1. return, reciprocation
2. retaliation

Derived terms

• gengælde (“to reciprocate”)
• gøre gengæld (“to reciprocate”)
• til gengæld (“on the other hand, however”)

References

• “gengæld” in Den Danske Ordbog