Jomfru/Pigen

[Matthew Bagley]

What is the difference between "jomfru" and "pigen"?  What determines when one is used and the other isn't?

[Matthew Bagley]

What is the difference between "jomfru" and "pige"?  What determines when one is used and the other isn't?

[Peter Kristiansen]

Mostly a question of position in society:
Peasant girls are "pige", while girls of the citizenry are "jomfru"

[Ole Westermann]

Jomfru (virgin) - until late 1600 only used about unmarried women of noble rank, later until mid-1900 used about unmarried women of more or less important middle class, and then also about older maids.
Pige (girl) - mostly young unmarried women, but also used about older ones.
Fruentimmer - mostly in the church records used about women of simple rank and behaviour, and also about women with illegitimate child/children; often of depreciatory character.

mvh Ole