Danish phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

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.