The Danish (dansk) is a language of Scandinavia that is spoken in Denmark, in some areas of Greenland and in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein (south of Schleswig). It is closely related to Norwegian and Swedish, and most speakers of one of the three languages can understand the others to some degree. In writing, the differences between Danish and Norwegian are no greater than the difference between British and American English, although it will often be more difficult in oral conversations. The Scandinavian dialect can also be considered East Danish and South Swedish. Danish is also related to Faroese and Icelandic, but has diverged significantly and is not mutually intelligible with them, although many cognates will remain recognizable, especially in written form. These Scandinavian languages are North Germanic, strongly influenced by Low Saxon.
Since Danish is a Germanic language, speakers of other Germanic languages such as German, the dutch or even the English they will be able to recognize many terms.
Most young Danish adults are able to speak English, so learning Danish is usually not necessary to function. However, you may occasionally run into someone who does not speak English, especially when dealing with young children and the elderly, so a little knowledge of Danish would be helpful in those situations.
Pronunciation guide
Alphabet
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V (W) X Y Z Æ Ø Åa b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v (w) x y z æ ø å
The acute accent can be used in some words (for example, for), to make it easier to read, but it is always optional. C, Q, W, X and Z are only used in loans. V and W are treated the same, and W is sometimes left out of the alphabet.
Vowels
to, as in ctotalog
andas in s and ntadilla, but also as æ
i as in sislow, only shorter
or as in norvia, but also as to
or as in jorngla, but also like to
Y as in reY, but also like or
æ as in encyclopandday, only shorter
or as in mayorestuary
to as in Isaac, but also in duunviro, sometimes written aa
Consonants
b like in bollo, and w between vowels and at the end of words
c like k, but s before e or i
d like in dthat, th after vowels, silent after l, n or r and before t or s
F like in F erry
g like in gelatina, but as and as in Yuca after a vowel
h like in horario, hv = v, hj = j
j like in Ysmear
k like in kick, Y g between vowels and at the end of a syllable
l like in lazo
m like in mhand
n like in nudo
p like in p arrilla, b between vowels and at the end of a syllable
what as in english
R is a rocking sound in the back of the throat, silent after vowels and before consonants
s as in esspecial
t like in trotworld and done between vowels, at the end of a syllable and at the end of a word
v like in Viking, and noteb oo k at the end of words
Phrase list
Basics
- Hello.
- Haññp (halo).
- Hello. (informal)
- Hej (Tall).
- How are you?
- Hvordan går det? (Vor-dan gore d)
- Fine thanks.
- Godt / Fint, tak (Got, Feent tag).
- It's enough
- Det er nok (deh air knock)
- What's your name?
- Hvad hedder du? (Vadh header doo)
- My name is ______
- Jeg hedder ______ (Yay ...)
- What have you said?
- "Hvad siger du?" (Vadh see-r do)
- Pleased to meet you.
- Det var rart at møde dig (D'vahr rarht add murdhe dah-ee). Right but usually people say: "Det var hyggeligt at møde dig".
- Please.
- Vær så venlig (See saw venlee).
- Thanks.
- Tak (Tahg).
- No problem.
- Selv tak (seloo tahg).
- Yes.
- Ha (Already).
- Do not.
- Nej (Nay).
- Sorry. (draw attention)
- Undskyld mig (On'skil ma'ee).
- Sorry. (ask for forgiveness)
- Undskyld (On'skil).
- Sorry
- Det må du undskylde (Dee m'o doo on'skil'eh).
- Goodbye
- Farvel (favel).
- Goodbye (informal)
- Hej hej (High high).
- I can't speak Danish [well].
- Jeg taler ikke [godt] dansk (Ya'ee tailor 'eek'eh got dahnsk).
- Speak English?
- Taler du engelsk? (Tailor doo eng'glsk)
- Is there anyone here who speaks English?
- Er der nogen her, der taler engelsk? (Air dah no'en heer, dah tailor eng'elsk)
- Help!
- Hjælp! (Yelp)
- Watch out!
- Pas på! (Pas poh)
- Good morning (10am - 11am)
- Godmorgen (good 'morgen)
- Good morning (12pm)
- Godformiddag (good'formidhae)
- Buenas tardes
- Godaften (good'hafden).
- Good night
- Godnat (good'hnad).
- Good night (sleep well)
- Sov godt (saw'oo got).
- I do not understand.
- jeg forstår ikke (Yaye for-store 'ee'eh).
- Where is the bathroom?
- Hvor er toilettet? (War yesterday toiledet)
Problems
- Leave me alone.
- Lad mig være i fred (Ladh ma'ee ware i fredh).
- Do not touch me!
- Rør mig ikke! (Rawr ma'ee 'eek'e)
- I'll call the police.
- Jeg ringer efter politiet (Ya'ee rang'ehr ef-tuh po'lee'teet).
- Policeman!
- Politi (Po'lee'tee)!
- Tall! Thief!
- Stop tyven (Stop tee'ven)!
- I need your (singular) / your (plural) help.
- Jeg har brug for din / Mujeres hjælp (Ya'ee har bro 'for deen / Y'ayers yelp).
- Is an emergency.
- Det er et nødstilfælde (Day air ed need'steel'fell'eh).
- I'm lost.
- Jeg er faret vild (Ya'ee air far'red veel.).
- I've lost my purse
- Jeg har mistet min taske (Ya'ee will mis'ted mean task'eh).
- I have lost my wallet
- Jeg har mistet min tegnebog (Ya'ee will mis'ted meenn tai'neh'b'oh).
- I'm sick.
- Jeg er syg (Ya'ee air sic-). (Sick without the K)
- I have injured myself.
- Jeg er kommet til skade (Ya'ee air comet tel 'skadhe').
- I need a doctor
- Jeg har brug for en læge (Ya'ee har bro 'for en lay'eh).
- Can I use your phone?
- Må jeg låne din telefon? (Mo 'ya'ee lone'eh deen telephon)
Numbers
- 1
- in (in) / et (ed)
- 2
- to (to)
- 3
- three (trre)
- 4
- fire (fear)
- 5
- fem (fem)
- 6
- seks (seks)
- 7
- syv (sur'oo)
- 8
- otteude)
- 9
- neither (neither)
- 10
- youyou)
- 11
- elleveraise)
- 12
- tolv (toll)
- 13
- trettentredn)
- 14
- fjortenfyordn)
- 15
- femten (femden)
- 16
- seksten (seksden)
- 17
- sytten (surdn)
- 18
- atten (dna)
- 19
- nitten (needn)
- 20
- tyve (turve)
- 21
- enogtyve (enoyturve)
- 22
- toogtyve (to'oyturve)
- 23
- treogtyvetre'oyturve)
- 30
- tredive (tredhieve)
- 40
- fyrre (furre)
- 50
- halvtreds, femti (halvtres) (femdi)
- 60
- three (three)
- 70
- halvfjerds (hal-fjærs)
- 80
- firs (firs)
- 90
- halvfems (halfems)
- 100
- ethundrede (edhunredhe)
- 150
- ethundrede og halvtreds
- 200
- tohundrede (tohunredhe)
- 300
- trehundredetrehunredhe)
- 1000
- tusind (toosin)
- 2000
- totusinde (totoosine)
- 1,000,000
- in million, abbr: in mine.
- 1,000,000,000
- in milliardin miliary), abbr: in mine.
- 1,000,000,000,000
- in billion
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- nummer _____ (numuh ...)
- half
- halv (hal)
- less
- mindreminre)
- more
- meremere)
Weather
- Now
- nu (noo)
- After
- seneresenere)
- Before
- før (furr)
- In the morning
- morgenmorEN)
- At the end of the morning
- formiddag (formidhai)
- Afternoon
- eftermiddag (eftuhmidhai)
- To become night
- aftenafDEN)
- Night
- nat (nad)
Clock time
- The one in the morning
- klokken 1 (klogen et)
- Two in the morning
- klokken 2 (klogen to)
- Midday
- middagmidhai)
- One O 'Clock in the afternoon
- klokken 13 (klogen tredn)
- Two p.m
- klokken 14 (klogen fyordn)
- Midnight
- midnat (midhnad)
Duration
- _____ minutes)
- _____ minut (ter) (minood / minooduh)
- _____ hours)
- _____ timer (r) (teeme / teemuh)
- _____ days)
- _____ dag (e) (die / dire)
- _____ weeks)
- _____ uge (r) (oy-yeh)
- _____ months)
- _____ måned (er) (muhnedh [uh])
- _____ years)
- _____ år (uhr)
Days
- Today
- i dag (ee dai)
- Yesterday
- i går (ee gur)
- Tomorrow
- i morgen (ee morgen)
- This week
- denne ugeDenne hey)
- Last week
- sidste uge (system)
- Next week
- næste uge (neste)
- Monday
- mandag (manay)
- Tuesday
- tirsdag (tirsdai)
- Wednesday
- onsdag (onsdai)
- Thursday
- torsdag (torsdai)
- Friday
- fredagfredhai)
- Saturday
- lørdag (lure'ai)
- Sunday
- søndag (surnai)
Months
- January
- januarjanooar)
- February
- februarfebrooar)
- March
- martsmards)
- April
- AprilApril)
- May
- maj (mai)
- June
- juni (yoonee)
- July
- juli (yoolee)
- August
- Augustowyoosd)
- September
- Septembersebtember)
- October
- October (ogtober)
- November
- novembernovember)
- December
- decemberdecember)
Writing time and date
- What time is it?
- Hvad er klokken? (vadh er klogen)
- What date is today?
- Hvilken data er det i dag? (vilken datum uh ded i dai)
- Are the _____.
- Klokken er _____. (klogen er ...)
Keep in mind that when saying what time the clock is, it is normally only used from one to twelve, unless you have to make sure that there is no doubt whether it is after noon or before noon, in which case the twenty-four hour system.
Colors
- Black
- sort (Sword)
- White
- hvid (Vine)
- Gray
- grå (Gr'oh)
- Red
- rød (Roll)
- Blue
- blå (Blow)
- Yellow
- gulGoal)
- Green
- grøn (Gron)
- Orange
- orange (Oran'shay)
- Purple
- lillaLeela)
- Brown
- brunBroon)
Transport
Bus and train
- How much does a ticket to _____ cost?
- Hvad koster in billet til _____? (Vad 'custer een billet teal ...)
A ticket for _____, please: In billet til _____, tak. (A blue ticket ... please)
- Where is this train / bus going?
- Hvor kører dette tog / denne bus hen? (War keerah deh'deh tow hen? / Den'neh boos hen?)
- Where is the train / bus to _____?
- Hvor er toget / bussen til _____? (War air tow'wet / boosen teal ...)
- Does this train / bus stop at _____?
- Stopper toget / bussen i _____? (Stopper tow'wet / boosn 'ee ...)
- When does the train / bus leave for _____?
- Hvornår afgår toget / bussen til _____? (Vor'nahr ahf'gore tow'wet / boosn teal ...)
- When will this train / bus arrive in _____?
- Hvornår ankommer toget / bussen til _____? (vorrnuhr ankomuh toyed / boosn teal ...)
- Ticket
- Billet
- Seat reservation
- Pladsbillet
- Coach (on a train)
- Vogn
Indications
- Left
- Venstre (Venster)
- Right
- Højre (Hoy'ehr)
- Forwards
- Fremad (From'ad)
- Backward
- Tilbage (Tealbaeeye)
- Above on
- Over (Ouh'a)
- Under
- Under (Oo-nah)
- Next to _____
- See siden af _____ (Vet seed-den ah)
Cab
- Cab!
- Taxa / taxi! (ta'ksa / ta'ksee)
- Take me to _____, please.
- Kør mig til _____, tak. (Koor ma'ee teal ..., ta'k)
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- Hvad koster det at komme til _____? (Vad custer deh add komme teal ...?)
- Take me there, please.
- Kør mig venligst derhen. (Coo'ehr ma'ee come'lease't d'air'hen)
accommodation
- Har i nogle ledige værelser? (Har Ee knowle lethee varelsuh?)
- How much does a room cost for one person / two people?
- Hvad koster et enkeltværelse / dobbeltværelse?
- Does the room come with ...
- Har værelset ...
- ...bed sheets?
- ... sengetøj?
- ...a bathroom?
- ... et badeværelse?
- ...one phone?
- ... on the phone?
- ...a TV?
- ... et TV?
- Can I see the room first?
- Kan jeg se værelset først?
- Do you have something quieter?
- Har I et mere stille værelse?
- ...larger?
- ... større?
- ...cleaner?
- ... renere?
- ...cheaper?
- ... billigere?
- OK, I'll take it.
- OK, jeg tager det.
- I will stay for _____ night (s).
- Jeg bliver _____ nat (nætter).
- Can you suggest another hotel?
- Kan du foreslå et andet hotel?
- Do you have a safe?
- Har i et pengeskab?
- ...box office?
- ... aflåste skabe?
- Is breakfast / dinner included?
- Er det med morgenmad / aftensmad?
- What time is breakfast / dinner?
- Hvornår er der morgenmad / aftensmad?
- Please clean my room.
- Gør venligst værelset rent.
- Can you wake me up in _____?
- Kan i vække mig klokken _____?
- I want to check the output.
- Jeg vil gerne checke you.
Money
- Do you accept US / Australian / Canadian dollars?
- Godtager I amerikanske / australske / Canadian dollars?
- Do you accept pounds sterling?
- Godtager I britiske pund?
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Godtager I dankort?
- Can you exchange money for me?
- Kan I veksle penge for mig?
- Where can I change money?
- Hvor kan jeg veksle penge?
- Can you cash me a traveller's check?
- Kan jeg indløse on rejsecheck?
- Where can I change a traveller's check?
- Hvor kan jeg indløse on rejsecheck?
- What is the exchange rate?
- Hvad er vekselkursen?
- Where is there an automated teller machine (ATM)?
- Hvor er der in pengeautomat?
To eat
- A table for one person / two people, please.
- Et bord til en / to, tak.
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- Kan jeg are menuen?
- Can I look at the kitchen?
- Kan jeg se køkkenet?
- Is there a specialty of the house?
- Har I in specialitet?
- Is there a local specialty?
- Har I in lokal specialitet?
- I am vegetarian
- Jeg er vegetar.
- I don't eat pork
- Jeg spiser ikke svinekød.
- I don't eat beef.
- Jeg spiser ikke oksekød.
- I only eat kosher food.
- Jeg spiser kun kosher mad.
- Can you make it light, please? (less oil / butter / lard)
- Can I make it "fedtfattigt"?
- fixed price meal
- fast pris / Dan Menu
- à la carte
- à la carte
- breakfast
- morgenmad
- lunch
- frokost
- tea (food)
- eftermiddagsmad
- Dinner
- aftensmad
- I want _____.
- Jeg vil gerne have _____.
- I want a plate that contains _____.
- Jeg vil gerne have en ret med _____.
- chicken
- kylling
- veal
- oksekød
- fish
- fisk
- Jamon
- skinke
- sausage
- pølse
- cheese
- ost
- eggs
- æg
- salad
- salat
- fresh vegetables)
- (friske) grøntsager
- fresh fruit)
- (frisk) frugt
- bread
- brød
- toasts
- ristet brød
- noodles
- nudler
- rice
- ris
- grain
- bønner
- sprinkle
- tivolikrømmel / tivolidrøs
- Can I have a glass of _____?
- Kan jeg få et glas _____?
- Can I have a cup of _____?
- Kan jeg få en kop _____?
- Can I have a bottle of _____?
- Kan jeg få in flaske _____?
- coffee
- kaffe
- tea (drink)
- tea
- juice
- juice / saft
- water (with bubbles)
- danskvand
- Water
- vand
- beer
- øl
- red / white wine
- rød / hvid vin
- I can take some _____?
- Kan jeg få noget _____?
- Salt
- Salt
- black pepper
- peber
- Butter
- smør
- Excuse me, waiter? (get the waiter's attention)
- Undskyld mig?
- I've finished.
- Jeg er færdig.
- It was delicious.
- Det var lækkert.
- Please clean the dishes.
- Tag venligst tallerknerne.
- The check, please.
- Kan jeg få in regning?
pubs
- Do you serve alcohol?
- Udskænker I alkohol?
- Is there table service?
- Serverer I ved edge?
- One beer / two beers, please
- In øl / to øl, tak.
- A glass of red / white wine, please
- Et glas rødvin / hvidvin, tak.
- A pint please
- In stor fadøl, tak.
- A bottle, please.
- In flaske, tak.
- _____ (hard liquor) Y _____ (mixer), please.
- _____ og _____, tak.
- whiskey
- whiskey
- vodka
- vodka
- Ron
- rom
- Water
- vand
- club soda
- sodavand
- Tonic water
- tonic vand
- Orange juice
- appelsinjuice
- Coke (soda)
- Tail
- Do you have a bar snack?
- Har I snacks
- One more please.
- In til, tak.
- Another round, please.
- In omgang til, tak.
- When is closing time?
- Hvornår lukker I?
Shopping
- Do you have this in my size?
- Har I den / det i min størrelse?
- How much is this?
- Hvad koster den?
- It is too expensive.
- Stop for dyrt.
- Would you take _____?
- Tager I _____?
- expensive
- dyr (t)
- cheap
- billig (t)
- I can't afford it.
- Jeg har ikke råd til den / det.
- I do not want it.
- Jeg vil ikke have den / det.
- You're fooling me.
- Du snyder mig.
- I'm not interested.
- Jeg er ikke interesseret.
- OK, I'll take it.
- OK, jeg tager den.
- Can I have a bag?
- Kan jeg få in pose?
- Do you ship (abroad)?
- Sender I (oversøisk)?
- Needed...
- Jeg har brug for ...
- ...toothpaste.
- ... tandpasta.
- ...a toothbrush.
- ... in tandbørste.
- ... tampons.
- ... tampon.
- ...sanitary towels.
- ... bind or hygiejnebind or menstruationsbind.
- ...soap.
- ... sæbe.
- ...shampoo.
- ... shampoo.
- ...analgesic. (for example, aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ... (in) hovedpinepille.
- ... cold medicine.
- ... measurement mod forkølelse.
- ... stomach medicine.
- ... mavemedicin.
- ..a razor.
- ... at barberskraber.
- ...an umbrella.
- ... in paraply.
- ... sun lotion.
- ... let me know.
- ...a postcard.
- ... et postkort.
- ...stamps.
- ... frimærker.
- ... batteries.
- ... batterier.
- ...writing paper.
- ... brevpapir.
- ...a pen.
- ... in kuglepen.
- ...books in English.
- ... Engelsksprogede bøger.
- ... magazines in English.
- ... Engelsksprogede blade.
- ... a newspaper in English.
- ... In engelsksproget avis.
- ... an English-Danish dictionary.
- ... in Engelsk-Dansk ordbog.
Lead
- I want to rent a car
- I want to rent a car.
- Can I buy insurance?
- Kan jeg blive forsikret?
- Stop (on a street sign)
- stop
- One Way
- ensrettet
- Yield
- valid
- Parking is not allowed
- parkering forbudt
- Speed limit
- fartgrænse
- Fuel station
- tankstation
- Gasoline
- benzin
- Diesel
- diesel
Authority
- I have done nothing wrong.
- Jeg har ikke gjort noget forkert.
- It was a misunderstanding.
- Det var in misforståelse.
- Where are you taking me?
- Hvor tager I mig hen?
- Am I under arrest?
- Er jeg anholdt?
- I am an American / Australian / British / Canadian citizen
- Jeg er in amerikansk / australsk / britisk / canadisk statsborger.
- I want to speak to the American / Australian / British / Canadian embassy / consulate
- Jeg vil tale med den / det amerikanske / australske / britiske / canadiske Ambossade / konsulat.
- I want to speak to a lawyer
- Jeg vil tale med in advokat.
- Can I pay a fine now?
- Kan jeg betale in bøde med det samme? (Rarely, if possible.)
- I want to talk to your superior
- Jeg vil tale med din overordnede.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Danish language.w: Danish language
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