Basic Words and Phrases in Danish
About Danish
Danish is a North Germanic language primarily spoken in Denmark and is also an official language of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is closely related to other Scandinavian languages like Swedish and Norwegian. Danish has a complex phonology with unique vowel sounds and a melodic intonation. It uses the Latin-based alphabet with additional characters. Danish grammar features noun and adjective declension, verb conjugation, and grammatical gender. The language has borrowed words from other languages, including Low German and French. Danish is an important part of Danish culture, literature, and society, reflecting the country's rich heritage.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Ja |
|---|---|
| No | Nej |
| Please | Tak |
| Yes, please | Ja, tak |
| No, thank you | Nej, tak |
| Thanks | Tak |
| Thank you | Tak |
| Thank you very much | Mange tak |
| You're welcome | Selv tak |
| No problem | Det er ingen sag Det er okay Ingen problem |
| Excuse me | Undskyld mig |
| I’m sorry | Jeg er ked af det |
| Sorry | Undskyld |
| Cheers! | Skål! |
| Okay | Okay |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Hej |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hej |
| Good day | God dag |
| Good morning | God morgon |
| Good afternoon | God eftermiddag |
| Good evening | God aften |
| Good night | Godnat |
| Goodbye | Farvel |
| See you later! | Vi ses senere! |
| Have a nice day! | Ha' en god dag! |
| Bye | Hej hej |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Hvordan har du det? |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Jeg har det fint |
| Good, thank you! | Godt, tak! |
| And you? | Og dig? |
| Nice to meet you! | Dejligt at møde dig! Hyggeligt at møde dig! Rart at møde dig! |
| Pleased to meet you! | Det glæder mig at møde dig (frm) |
| What is your name? | Hvad hedder du? |
| My name is … | Jeg hedder … |
| Where are you from? | Hvor kommer du fra? |
| I am from … | Jeg er fra ... |
| I don't speak Danish | Jeg taler ikke dansk |
| Do you speak English? | Taler du engelsk? |
| I understand | Jeg forstår |
| I do not understand | Jeg forstår ikke |
| I like it | Jeg kan lide det |
| I don't like it | Jeg kan ikke lide det |
| How is the weather today? | Hvordan er vejret i dag? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Kan du anbefale nogle lokale seværdigheder? |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Reception | Reception |
| Reservation | Reservation |
| Hotel room | Hotelværelse |
| Key | Nøgle |
| Breakfast | Morgenmad |
| I have a reservation | Jeg har en reservation |
| I would like to book a room | Jeg vil gerne reservere et værelse |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Har I ledige værelser? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Menu | Menukort |
| A table for one, please | Et bord til én person, tak |
| A table for two, please | Et bord til to, tak |
| I would like a coffee, please | Jeg vil gerne have en kop kaffe, tak |
| Enjoy your meal! | Velbekomme! |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Kan jeg få regningen, tak? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Kan du bringe mig regningen, tak? |
| I would like to pay, please | Jeg vil gerne betale, tak |
| The bill, please | Regningen, tak |
| Can I pay with cash? | Kan jeg betale med kontanter? |
| Can I pay with card? | Kan jeg betale med kort? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Kan jeg betale med kreditkort? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Kan du foreslå noget for mig? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Kan jeg få et glas vand, tak? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Har I nogle lokale specialiteter? |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Morgenmad |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Frokost |
| Dinner | Aftensmad |
| Food | Mad |
| Drinks | Drikkevarer |
| Bread | Brød |
| Sandwich | Sandwich |
| Cheese | Ost |
| Meat | Kød |
| Fish | Fisk |
| Vegetables | Grøntsager |
| Fruit | Frugt |
| Vegetarian | Vegetar |
| I am a vegetarian | Jeg er vegetar |
| Coffee | Kaffe |
| Tea | Te |
| Beer | Øl |
| Wine | Vin |
| Juice | Saft |
| Water | Vand |
| Milk | Mælk |
| Dessert | Dessert |
| Salad | Salat |
| Soup | Suppe |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Hæveautomat |
|---|---|
| Bank | Bank |
| Beach | Strand |
| Library | Bibliotek |
| Museum | Museum |
| Park | Park |
| Pharmacy | Apotek |
| Post Office | Postkontor |
| School | Skole |
| Tourist Information | Turistinformation |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Butik |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Supermarked |
| Grocery store | Dagligvarebutik |
| Market | Marked |
| Bakery | Bageri |
| Bookstore | Boghandel |
| How much does this cost? | Hvor meget koster dette? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Kan jeg få en kvittering? |
| I'm just looking | Jeg kigger bare |
| Sunglasses | Solbriller |
| Umbrella | Paraply |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Hvor er toilettet? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Hvor er stranden? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Hvordan kommer jeg til lufthavnen? |
| Left | Venstre |
| Right | Højre |
| Straight ahead | Lige frem |
| Is it far from here? | Er det langt herfra? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Kan du vise det på kortet? |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Hvor lang tid tager det at gå derhen? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Lufthavn |
|---|---|
| Plane | Fly |
| Train station | Togstation |
| Train | Tog |
| Bus station | Busstation |
| Bus | Bus |
| Taxi | Taxa |
| Ticket | Billet |
| Can I get a ticket to Copenhagen? | Kan jeg få en billet til København? |
| I would like a ticket to Copenhagen | Jeg vil gerne have en billet til København |
| I need a ticket to Copenhagen | Jeg har brug for en billet til København |
| A ticket to Copenhagen, please | En billet til København, tak |
| What time is the next train to Copenhagen? | Hvornår kommer det næste tog til København? |
| When is the next train to Copenhagen? | Hvornår går det næste tog til København? |
| When does the next train to Copenhagen leave? | Hvornår kører det næste tog til København? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Hjælp! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Hjælp mig! |
| I need help | Jeg har brug for hjælp |
| I need assistance | Jeg har brug for assistance |
| I need a doctor | Jeg har brug for en læge |
| Police | Politi |
| Police Station | Politistation |
| Hospital | Hospital |
| Ambulance | Ambulance |
| Doctor | Læge |
| Fire department | Brandvæsenet |
| Fire! | Brand! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Hvad er klokken? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | Klokken er et |
| It is half past two | Klokken er halv tre |
| Morning | Morgen |
| Afternoon | Eftermiddag |
| Evening | Aften |
| Night | Nat |
| Today | I dag |
| Tomorrow | I morgen |
| Yesterday | I går |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Nul |
|---|---|
| One | En |
| Two | To |
| Three | Tre |
| Four | Fire |
| Five | Fem |
| Six | Seks |
| Seven | Syv |
| Eight | Otte |
| Nine | Ni |
| Ten | Ti |
| Eleven | Elleve |
| Twelve | Tolv |
| Thirteen | Tretten |
| Fourteen | Fjorten |
| Fifteen | Femten |
| Sixteen | Seksten |
| Seventeen | Sytten |
| Eighteen | Atten |
| Nineteen | Nitten |
| Twenty | Tyve |
| Twenty-one | Enogtyve |
| Twenty-two | Toogtyve |
| Twenty-three | Treogtyve |
| Twenty-four | Fireogtyve |
| Twenty-five | Femogtyve |
| Twenty-six | Seksogtyve |
| Twenty-seven | Syvogtyve |
| Twenty-eight | Otteogtyve |
| Twenty-nine | Niogtyve |
| Thirty | Tredive |
| Forty | Fyrre |
| Fifty | Halvtreds |
| Sixty | Tres |
| Seventy | Halvfjerds |
| Eighty | Firs |
| Ninety | Halvfems |
| Hundred | Hundrede |
| Two hundred | To hundrede |
| One thousand | Tusind |
| Two thousand | To tusind |
| Three thousand | Tre tusind |
| Hundred thousand | Hundrede tusind |
| Million | Million |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Første |
|---|---|
| Second | Anden |
| Third | Tredje |
| Fourth | Fjerde |
| Fifth | Femte |
| Sixth | Sjette |
| Seventh | Syvende |
| Eighth | Ottende |
| Ninth | Niende |
| Tenth | Tiende |
| Eleventh | Ellevte |
| Twelfth | Tolvte |
| Thirteenth | Trettende |
| Fourteenth | Fjortende |
| Fifteenth | Femtende |
| Sixteenth | Sekstende |
| Seventeenth | Syttende |
| Eighteenth | Attende |
| Nineteenth | Nittende |
| Twentieth | Tyvende |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Mandag |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Tirsdag |
| Wednesday | Onsdag |
| Thursday | Torsdag |
| Friday | Fredag |
| Saturday | Lørdag |
| Sunday | Søndag |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Januar |
|---|---|
| February | Februar |
| March | Marts |
| April | April |
| May | Maj |
| June | Juni |
| July | Juli |
| August | August |
| September | September |
| Oktober | Oktober |
| November | November |
| December | December |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Hvad? |
|---|---|
| What is your name? | Hvad hedder du? |
| What is that? | Hvad er det? |
| What is this called? | Hvad hedder det? |
| What do you need? | Hvad har du brug for? |
| What time is it? | Hvad er klokken? |
| What do you like? | Hvad kan du lide? |
| Where? | Hvor? |
| Where is the toilet? | Hvor er toilettet? |
| When? | Hvornår? |
| When is the next train? | Hvornår går det næste tog? |
| When can we meet? | Hvornår kan vi mødes? |
| Why? | Hvorfor det? |
| Why is it expensive? | Hvorfor er det dyrt? |
| How? | Hvordan det? |
| How are you doing? | Hvordan har du det? |
| How would you like to pay? | Hvordan vil du gerne betale? |
| How far is this? | Hvor langt er der hertil? |
| Which? | Hvilken? |
| Which book belongs to your sister? | Hvilken bog tilhører din søster? |
| Which museum did you visit? | Hvilket museum har du besøgt? |
| Which museums did you visit? | Hvilke museer har du besøgt? |
| Which one of these is your car? | Hvilken en af disse er din bil? |
| Who? | Hvem? |
| Who is that? | Hvem er det? |
| Who is your travel companion? | Hvem er din rejseledsager? |
| Whose? | Hvis? |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Hvis telefon ringer? |
| Whose bag is this? | Hvis taske er det? |
| How many? | Hvor mange? |
| How many people were at the concert? | Hvor mange mennesker var til koncerten? |
| How much? | Hvor meget? |
| How much does this cost? | Hvor meget koster det? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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