Learning a new language can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. Whether you’re planning a trip to Denmark, have Danish friends, or are simply interested in broadening your linguistic horizons, acquiring some basic Danish vocabulary can be incredibly beneficial. Danish, a North Germanic language spoken by about 6 million people, primarily in Denmark, is known for its melodious intonation and unique pronunciations. In this article, we’ll cover essential vocabulary for beginners to help you get started on your Danish language journey.
Greetings and Basic Phrases
When learning any new language, it’s important to start with greetings and basic phrases. These will help you initiate conversations and make a good impression.
– **Hej** (Hi)
– **Godmorgen** (Good morning)
– **Goddag** (Good day)
– **Godaften** (Good evening)
– **Godnat** (Good night)
– **Farvel** (Goodbye)
– **Hvordan har du det?** (How are you?)
– **Jeg har det godt, tak.** (I am fine, thank you.)
– **Tak** (Thank you)
– **Selv tak** (You’re welcome)
– **Undskyld** (Excuse me / Sorry)
– **Ja** (Yes)
– **Nej** (No)
These basic phrases can help you navigate social situations, whether you’re meeting someone for the first time or saying goodbye.
Numbers
Numbers are fundamental in any language. Whether you’re telling the time, shopping, or asking for directions, knowing how to count is essential.
– **En** (One)
– **To** (Two)
– **Tre** (Three)
– **Fire** (Four)
– **Fem** (Five)
– **Seks** (Six)
– **Syv** (Seven)
– **Otte** (Eight)
– **Ni** (Nine)
– **Ti** (Ten)
– **Elleve** (Eleven)
– **Tolv** (Twelve)
– **Tretten** (Thirteen)
– **Fjorten** (Fourteen)
– **Femten** (Fifteen)
– **Seksten** (Sixteen)
– **Sytten** (Seventeen)
– **Atten** (Eighteen)
– **Nitten** (Nineteen)
– **Tyve** (Twenty)
Once you have these down, you can easily form higher numbers by combining them. For example, **enogtyve** (21), **toogtyve** (22), and so on.
Days of the Week
Knowing the days of the week is useful for planning activities, scheduling appointments, and understanding dates.
– **Mandag** (Monday)
– **Tirsdag** (Tuesday)
– **Onsdag** (Wednesday)
– **Torsdag** (Thursday)
– **Fredag** (Friday)
– **Lørdag** (Saturday)
– **Søndag** (Sunday)
Months of the Year
Understanding the months will help you with dates, holidays, and seasons.
– **Januar** (January)
– **Februar** (February)
– **Marts** (March)
– **April** (April)
– **Maj** (May)
– **Juni** (June)
– **Juli** (July)
– **August** (August)
– **September** (September)
– **Oktober** (October)
– **November** (November)
– **December** (December)
Common Questions
Being able to ask and answer questions is crucial for effective communication.
– **Hvad hedder du?** (What is your name?)
– **Jeg hedder…** (My name is…)
– **Hvor kommer du fra?** (Where are you from?)
– **Jeg kommer fra…** (I am from…)
– **Hvor bor du?** (Where do you live?)
– **Jeg bor i…** (I live in…)
– **Hvor gammel er du?** (How old are you?)
– **Jeg er… år gammel.** (I am… years old.)
Family Members
Talking about family is a common topic in conversations, so knowing these terms can be very helpful.
– **Mor** (Mother)
– **Far** (Father)
– **Bror** (Brother)
– **Søster** (Sister)
– **Bedstemor** (Grandmother)
– **Bedstefar** (Grandfather)
– **Tante** (Aunt)
– **Onkel** (Uncle)
– **Fætter** (Male cousin)
– **Kusine** (Female cousin)
– **Søn** (Son)
– **Datter** (Daughter)
Food and Drinks
Whether you’re dining out or shopping for groceries, knowing some basic food and drink vocabulary can be very useful.
– **Brød** (Bread)
– **Ost** (Cheese)
– **Smør** (Butter)
– **Mælk** (Milk)
– **Vand** (Water)
– **Te** (Tea)
– **Kaffe** (Coffee)
– **Frugt** (Fruit)
– **Grøntsager** (Vegetables)
– **Kød** (Meat)
– **Fisk** (Fish)
– **Æg** (Eggs)
– **Sukker** (Sugar)
– **Salt** (Salt)
– **Peber** (Pepper)
Colors
Colors are another basic vocabulary set that can help you describe things and understand descriptions.
– **Rød** (Red)
– **Blå** (Blue)
– **Grøn** (Green)
– **Gul** (Yellow)
– **Sort** (Black)
– **Hvid** (White)
– **Grå** (Gray)
– **Brun** (Brown)
– **Lyserød** (Pink)
– **Lilla** (Purple)
– **Orange** (Orange)
Common Verbs
Verbs are the action words that will help you form sentences and communicate more effectively.
– **At være** (To be)
– **At have** (To have)
– **At gøre** (To do)
– **At sige** (To say)
– **At gå** (To go)
– **At komme** (To come)
– **At se** (To see)
– **At høre** (To hear)
– **At tale** (To speak)
– **At spise** (To eat)
– **At drikke** (To drink)
– **At sove** (To sleep)
– **At læse** (To read)
– **At skrive** (To write)
Adjectives
Adjectives will help you describe nouns, giving more detail and making your sentences more interesting.
– **Stor** (Big)
– **Lille** (Small)
– **God** (Good)
– **Dårlig** (Bad)
– **Ny** (New)
– **Gammel** (Old)
– **Smuk** (Beautiful)
– **Grim** (Ugly)
– **Lys** (Light)
– **Mørk** (Dark)
– **Varm** (Warm)
– **Kold** (Cold)
Directions
Knowing how to ask for and understand directions can be incredibly useful, especially when you’re in an unfamiliar place.
– **Til højre** (To the right)
– **Til venstre** (To the left)
– **Ligeud** (Straight ahead)
– **Tilbage** (Back)
– **Fremad** (Forward)
– **Op** (Up)
– **Ned** (Down)
– **Ind** (In)
– **Ud** (Out)
– **Her** (Here)
– **Der** (There)
– **Nær** (Near)
– **Langt** (Far)
Travel Vocabulary
If you’re planning to travel to Denmark, these words will come in handy.
– **Lufthavn** (Airport)
– **Togstation** (Train station)
– **Bus** (Bus)
– **Taxi** (Taxi)
– **Bil** (Car)
– **Cykel** (Bicycle)
– **Kort** (Map)
– **Billet** (Ticket)
– **Hotel** (Hotel)
– **Værelse** (Room)
– **Reservation** (Reservation)
– **Pas** (Passport)
– **Bagage** (Luggage)
Shopping Vocabulary
Shopping can be a fun and necessary activity, and knowing some basic vocabulary can make it easier.
– **Butik** (Shop)
– **Supermarked** (Supermarket)
– **Pris** (Price)
– **Penge** (Money)
– **Kreditkort** (Credit card)
– **Kontant** (Cash)
– **Kvittering** (Receipt)
– **Tilbud** (Offer/Sale)
– **Tøj** (Clothes)
– **Sko** (Shoes)
– **Størrelse** (Size)
– **Farve** (Color)
– **Kunde** (Customer)
– **Sælger** (Seller)
Health and Emergencies
In case of an emergency or health issue, knowing these words can be crucial.
– **Læge** (Doctor)
– **Sygehus** (Hospital)
– **Apotek** (Pharmacy)
– **Medicin** (Medicine)
– **Skadestue** (Emergency room)
– **Politi** (Police)
– **Ambulance** (Ambulance)
– **Brandvæsen** (Fire department)
– **Nødsituation** (Emergency)
– **Smerte** (Pain)
– **Hovedpine** (Headache)
– **Feber** (Fever)
– **Allergi** (Allergy)
Conclusion
Learning a new language is a process that requires time, patience, and practice. Starting with basic vocabulary can help you build a foundation upon which you can expand your knowledge and skills. Danish is a beautiful language with a rich history, and mastering it can open up new cultural and social opportunities.
Remember to practice these words and phrases regularly, and don’t be afraid to use them in real-life situations. The more you practice, the more confident you will become. Happy learning, or as the Danes say, **glædelig læring**!
