Hej, nej, hej hej: Danish words and phrases all travellers should learn
07.05.2024 - 10:33
/ theguardian.com
OK, we’ll admit it. Danish isn’t the easiest language to learn – pronouncing certain words involves some invigorating tongue gymnastics and a talent for gulping down glottal stops. With just 6 million native speakers, Danish hardly matches widely spoken Mandarin (941 million speakers) or Spanish (486 million speakers) either.
But mastering a few basics – how to order a coffee or commenting on the weather by talking about windswept pelicans (seriously, read on) – can deeply enrich your experience when visiting Denmark. The Danes are a convivial bunch and will truly appreciate your efforts getting to grips with their Old Norse-descended syntax (no matter how foolish you may feel). Try to speak Danish in a snug cafe or pub and it could lead to some illuminating conversations and lifelong friendships. Heck, you might even be able to watch an episode of The Killing/Borgen with the subtitles off when you get back home too …
Hello
Hej (informal)/goddag (formal)
Thank you
Tak
Goodbye
Hej hej (informal; yes we know bidding farewell with “hello! hello!” is confusing); farvel (formal). Some people also say hyg dig! (which translates as “have hygge”).
Please
So … Danish has no word for “please”. Instead, many use the words
vær så venlig (“be so kind”), start sentences with “May I?” (Ma jeg) or “Could I” (Kunne jeg), or simply add the word tak (“thank you”) to the end of their question.
Yes
Ja (pronounced “yeah”)
No
Nej
How are you?
Hvordan har du det?
Do you speak English?
Taler du engelsk?
Could you please repeat that?
Kan du venligst gentage det?
What is your name?
Hvad hedder du?
My name is …
Jeg hedder …
I am from …
Jeg er fra …
Sorry/excuse me
Undskyld
Where is … the museum/train station/restaurant?
Hvor er … museet/togstationen/restauranten?
When’s the next bus/train?
Hvornår er den næste bus/tog?
I have a reservation
Jeg har en reservation
Are there any gay venues nearby?
Er der nogle homoseksuelle spillesteder i nærheden?
Do you accept credit cards?
Accepterer du kreditkort?
Does the room have a bath and toilet?
Har værelset bad og toilet?
Where can I rent a bicycle?
Hvor kan jeg leje en cykel?
Cool!
Det er fedt!
One
En
Two
To
Three
Tre
Four
Fire
Five
Fem
Six
Seks
Seven
Syv
Eight
Otte
Nine
Ni
10
Ti
(Open sandwiches and a staple of Danish cuisine)
Smørrebrød
Buffet-style spread of cold foods
Koldt bord (cold table)
Herring
Sild … which could come pickled (syltede), marinated(marinerede) or salted(salted).
Shrimps
Rejer
Meatballs
Frikadeller
Hot dog stands (ubiquitous in Copenhagen)
Pølsevogn (literally “sausage wagons”)
Coffee
Kaffe
Tea
Te
Danish pastry
Wienerbrød AKA “Vienna bread”. That’s right. If you want to order the flaky, buttery treat known to the rest of the world as a “Danish”, you’ll need to use an Austrian moniker in its homeland (the