Danish (dansk) is a Scandinavian language spoken in Denmark, some areas of Greenland and the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein (Southern Schleswig). It is closely related to Norwegian and Swedish, and most speakers of one of the three languages can understand the others to a certain extent. In writing, the differences between the Danish and Norwegian languages are not bigger than the difference between British and American English, though it will often be harder in oral conversations. The Scanian dialect can also be considered as East-Danish as well as South-Swedish. Danish is also related to Faroese and Icelandic, but has diverged significantly and is not mutually intelligible with them, though many cognates will still be recognisable, particularly in written form. These Scandinavian languages are North Germanic, strongly influenced by Low Saxon.

As Danish is a Germanic language, speakers of other Germanic languages like German, Dutch or even English will be able to recognise many cognates.

Most younger adult Danes are able to speak English, so learning Danish is generally not necessary to get by. Nevertheless, you may occasionally find the odd person who does not speak English, especially when dealing with young children and the elderly, so some knowledge of Danish would be useful in such 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 Å 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 å

Acute accent may be used in some words (eg fór), for ease of reading, but it's always optional. C, Q, W, X and Z are only used in loanwords. V and W are treated the same, and W is sometimes left out of the alphabet.

Vowels

a as in cat
e as in sin, but also as æ and murder
i as in see, only shorter
o as in no, but also as å
u as in soon, but also as å
y as in few, but also as ø
æ as in egg, only shorter
ø as mayor, but also as in bird
å as in old, but also caught; sometimes written aa

Consonants

b as in bed, and wick between vowels and at the end of words
c as k, but sing before e or i

d as in dead, the after vowels, silent after l, n or r and before t or s
f as in ferry
g as in ­gone, but like y as in yet after a vowel
h as in hope, hv = v, hj = j
j as in yes
k as in kick, and go between vowels and at the end of a syllable
l as in lake
m as in many
n as in near
p as in parry, bit between vowels and at the end of a syllable
qu like English
r is a rolling sound at the back of the throat, silent after vowels and before consonants
s as in smell
t as in trout and dog between vowels, at the end of a syllable and at the end of a word
v as in viking, and hoot at the end of words

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.

Hallo (halo). - not commonly used.

Hello. (informal)

Hej (High).

How are you?

Hvordan går det? (Vor-dan gore d)

Fine, thank you.

Godt/Fint, tak (Got,Feent tag).

That's enough

Det er nok (deh air knock)

What is your name?

Hvad hedder du? (Vadh header doo)

My name is ______ .

Jeg hedder ______ (Yay...)

What did you say?

„Hvad siger du?“ (‘‘Vadh see-r do‘‘)

Nice to meet you.

Det var rart at møde dig (D' vahr rarht add murdhe dah-ee). Correct but normally people say: "Det var hyggeligt at møde dig".

Please.

Vær så venlig (Ver saw venlee).

Thank you.

Tak (Tahg).

You're welcome.

Selv tak (seloo tahg).

Yes.

Ja (Ya).

No.

Nej (Nye).

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Undskyld mig (On'skil ma'ee).

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Undskyld (On'skil).

I'm 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).

Do you speak English?

Taler du engelsk? (Tailor doo eng'glsk)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Er der nogen her, der taler engelsk? (Air dah no'en heer, dah tailor eng'elsk)

Help!

Hjælp! (Yelp)

Look out!

Pas på! (Pass poh)

Good morning (before roughly 10am)

Godmorgen (good' morgen)

Good morning (after 10am, but before noon)

Godformiddag (good'formidhae)

Good evening

Godaften (good'hafden)

Good night

Godnat (good'hnad)

Good night (sleep well)

Sov godt (saw'oo got).

I don't understand.

jeg forstår ikke (Yaye for-store 'ee'eh).

Where is the toilet?

Hvor er toilettet? (War ayer toiledet)

Problems

Leave me alone.

Lad mig være i fred (Ladh ma'ee ware i fredh).

Don't 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).

Police!

Politi (Po'lee'tee)!

Stop! Thief!

Stop tyven (Stop tee'ven)!

I need your(sg)/your(pl) help.

Jeg har brug for din/jeres hjælp (Ya'ee har bro' for deen/Y'ayers yelp).

It's 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 lost my bag.

Jeg har mistet min taske (Ya'ee har mis'ted mean task'eh).

I lost my wallet.

Jeg har mistet min tegnebog (Ya'ee har mis'ted meenn tai'neh'b'oh).

I'm sick.

Jeg er syg (Ya'ee air sic-). (Sick without the K)

I've been injured.

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

en (en)/et (ed)

2

to (to)

3

tre (trre)

4

fire (fear)

5

fem (fem)

6

seks (seks)

7

syv (sur'oo)

8

otte (ude)

9

ni (ni)

10

ti (ti)

11

elleve (eleve)

12

tolv (toll)

13

tretten (tredn)

14

fjorten (fyordn)

15

femten (femden)

16

seksten (seksden)

17

sytten (surdn)

18

atten (adn)

19

nitten (needn)

20

tyve (turve)

21

enogtyve (enoyturve)

22

toogtyve (to'oyturve)

23

treogtyve (tre'oyturve)

30

tredive (tredhieve)

40

fyrre (furre)

50

halvtreds, femti (halvtres) (femdi)

60

tres (tres)

70

halvfjerds (hal-fjærs)

80

firs(firs)

90

halvfems (halfems)

100

ethundrede (edhunredhe)

150

ethundrede og halvtreds

200

tohundrede (tohunredhe)

300

trehundrede (trehunredhe)

1000

tusind (toosin)

2000

totusinde (totoosine)

1,000,000

en million, abbr: en mio.

1,000,000,000

en milliard (en miliar), abbr: en mia.

1,000,000,000,000

en billion

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

nummer _____ (numuh ...)

half

halv (hal)

less

mindre (minre)

more

mere (mere)

Time

now

nu (noo)

later

senere (senere)

before

før (furr)

morning

morgen (morEN)

late morning

formiddag (formidhai)

afternoon

eftermiddag (eftuhmidhai)

evening

aften (afDEN)

night

nat (nad)

Clock time

one o'clock AM

klokken 1 (klogen et)

two o'clock AM

klokken 2 (klogen to)

noon

middag (midhai)

one o'clock PM

klokken 13 (klogen tredn)

two o'clock PM

klokken 14 (klogen fyordn)

midnight

midnat (midhnad)

Duration

_____ minute(s)

_____ minut(ter) (minood / minooduh)

_____ hour(s)

_____ time(r) (teeme / teemuh)

_____ day(s)

_____ dag(e) (die / dire)

_____ week(s)

_____ uge(r) (oy-yeh)

_____ month(s)

_____ måned(er) (muhnedh[uh])

_____ year's)

_____ år (uhr)

Days

today

i dag (ee dai)

yesterday

i går (ee gur)

tomorrow

i morgen (ee morgen)

this week

denne uge (denne ooye)

last week

sidste uge (siste)

next week

næste uge (neste)

Monday

mandag (manay)

Tuesday

tirsdag (tirsdai)

Wednesday

onsdag (onsdai)

Thursday

torsdag (torsdai)

Friday

fredag (fredhai)

Saturday

lørdag (lure'ai)

Sunday

søndag (surnai)

Months

January

januar (janooar)

February

februar (febrooar)

March

marts (mards)

April

april (abril)

May

maj (mai)

June

juni (yoonee)

July

juli (yoolee)

August

august (owyoosd)

September

september (sebtember)

October

oktober (ogtober)

November

november (november)

December

december (december)

Writing time and date

What's the time?

Hvad er klokken? (vadh er klogen)

What date is it today?

Hvilken dato er det i dag? (vilken dato uh ded i dai)

It's _____ o'clock.

Klokken er _____ . (klogen er ...)

Please note that when saying what the clock is, one would normally only use one to twelve, unless having to make sure there's no doubt as to whether it's past or before noon, in which case the twenty-four hour system is used.

Colors

black

sort (Sword)

white

hvid (Vid)

gray

grå (Gr'oh)

red

rød (Roll)

blue

blå (Blow)

yellow

gul (Gool)

green

grøn (Gron')

orange

orange (Oran'shay)

purple

lilla (Leela)

brown

brun (Broon)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

Hvad koster en billet til _____? (Vad' custer een billet teal ...)

One ticket to _____, please.

En billet til _____, tak. (Een billet teal ..., ta'k)

Where does this train/bus go?

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 in _____?

Stopper toget/bussen i _____? (Stopper tow'wet/boosn 'ee ...)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

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

Directions

Left

Venstre (Venster)

Right

Højre (Hoy'ehr)

Forwards

Fremad (From'ad)

Backwards

Tilbage (Tealbaeeye)

Above/over

Over (Ouh'a)

Under(neath)

under (Oo-nah)

Adjacent to _____

Ved siden af _____ (Vet seed-den ah' ...)

Taxi

Taxi!

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 ven'lease't d'air'hen)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

Har i nogle ledige værelser? (Har Ee knowle lethee varelsuh?)

How much is a room for one person/two people?

Hvad koster et enkeltværelse/dobbeltværelse?

Does the room come with...

Har værelset...

...bedsheets?

...sengetøj?

...a bathroom?

...et badeværelse?

...a telephone?

...en telefon?

...a TV?

...et TV?

May I see the room first?

Kan jeg se værelset først?

Do you have anything quieter?

Har I et mere stille værelse?

...bigger?

...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?

...lockers?

...aflåste skabe?

Is breakfast/supper included?

Er det med morgenmad/aftensmad?

What time is breakfast/supper?

Hvornår er der morgenmad/aftensmad?

Please clean my room.

Gør venligst værelset rent.

Can you wake me at _____?

Kan i vække mig klokken _____?

I want to check out.

Jeg vil gerne checke ud.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

Godtager I amerikanske/australske/canadiske dollars?

Do you accept British pounds?

Godtager I britiske pund?

Do you accept credit cards?

Godtager I dankort?

Can you change money for me?

Kan I veksle penge for mig?

Where can I get money changed?

Hvor kan jeg veksle penge?

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

Kan jeg indløse en rejsecheck?

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

Hvor kan jeg indløse en rejsecheck?

What is the exchange rate?

Hvad er vekselkursen?

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

Hvor er der en pengeautomat?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

Et bord til en/to, tak.

Can I look at the menu, please?

Kan jeg se menuen?

Can I look in the kitchen?

Kan jeg se køkkenet?

Is there a house specialty?

Har I en specialitet?

Is there a local specialty?

Har I en lokal specialitet?

I'm a 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 "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

Kan I lave det "fedtfattigt"?

fixed-price meal

fast pris/Dan Menu

à la carte

à la carte

breakfast

morgenmad

lunch

frokost

tea (meal)

eftermiddagsmad

supper

aftensmad

I want _____.

Jeg vil gerne have _____.

I want a dish containing _____.

Jeg vil gerne have en ret med _____.

chicken

kylling

beef

oksekød

fish

fisk

ham

skinke

sausage

pølse

cheese

ost

eggs

æg

salad

salat

(fresh) vegetables

(friske) grøntsager

(fresh) fruit

(frisk) frugt

bread

brød

toast

ristet brød

noodles

nudler

rice

ris

beans

bønner

sprinkles

tivolikrømmel/tivolidrøs

May I have a glass of _____?

Kan jeg få et glas _____?

May I have a cup of _____?

Kan jeg få en kop _____?

May I have a bottle of _____?

Kan jeg få en flaske _____?

coffee

kaffe

tea (drink)

te

juice

juice/saft

(bubbly) water

danskvand

water

vand

beer

øl

red/white wine

rød/hvid vin

May I have some _____?

Kan jeg få noget _____?

salt

salt

black pepper

peber

butter

smør

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

Undskyld mig?

I'm finished.

Jeg er færdig.

It was delicious.

Det var lækkert.

Please clear the plates.

Tag venligst tallerknerne.

The check, please.

Kan jeg få en regning?.

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

Udskænker I alkohol?

Is there table service?

Serverer I ved bordene?

A beer/two beers, please.

En øl/to øl, tak.

A glass of red/white wine, please.

Et glas rødvin/hvidvin, tak.

A pint, please.

En stor fadøl, tak.

A bottle, please.

En flaske, tak.

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

_____ og _____, tak.

whiskey

whiskey

vodka

vodka

rum

rom

water

vand

club soda

sodavand

tonic water

tonic vand

orange juice

appelsinjuice

Coke (soda)

Cola

Do you have any bar snacks?

Har I snacks?

One more, please.

En til, tak.

Another round, please.

En 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?

That's too expensive.

Det er 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 don't want it.

Jeg vil ikke have den/det.

You're cheating 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 en pose?

Do you ship (overseas)?

Sender I (oversøisk)?

I need...

Jeg har brug for...

...toothpaste.

...tandpasta.

...a toothbrush.

...en tandbørste.

...tampons.

...tamponer.

...sanitary napkins.

...bind or hygiejnebind or menstruationsbind.

...soap.

...sæbe.

...shampoo.

...shampoo.

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

...(en) hovedpinepille.

...cold medicine.

...medicin mod forkølelse.

...stomach medicine.

...mavemedicin.

...a razor.

...en barberskraber.

...an umbrella.

...en paraply.

...sunblock lotion.

...solcreme.

...a postcard.

...et postkort.

...postage stamps.

...frimærker.

...batteries.

...batterier.

...writing paper.

...brevpapir.

...a pen.

...en kuglepen.

...English-language books.

...Engelsksprogede bøger.

...English-language magazines.

...Engelsksprogede blade.

...an English-language newspaper.

...En engelsksproget avis.

...an English-Danish dictionary.

...en Engelsk-Dansk ordbog.

Driving

I want to rent a car.

Jeg vil gerne leje en bil.

Can I get insurance?

Kan jeg blive forsikret?

Stop (on a street sign)

stop

One way

ensrettet

Yield

vige

No parking

parkering forbudt

Speed limit

fartgrænse

Gas (petrol) station

tankstation

Petrol

benzin

Diesel

diesel

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

Jeg har ikke gjort noget forkert.

It was a misunderstanding.

Det var en 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 en amerikansk/australsk/britisk/canadisk statsborger.

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

Jeg vil tale med den/det amerikanske/australske/britiske/canadiske ambassade/konsulat.

I want to talk to a lawyer.

Jeg vil tale med en advokat.

Can I just pay a fine now?

Kan jeg betale en bøde med det samme? (Rarely, if ever possible.)

I want to speak to your superior

Jeg vil tale med din overordnede.