Danish Language

The Danish language is Danish, or Dansk. You should learn the Danish language (at least a little) if you plan to live here. If you can speak a little Danish, it is appreciated; however, English is widely spoken. Learning common phrases can go a long way: Thank you, hello, HELP!. Speaking Danish is a challenge, but it can be done.

Danish is a Germanic language, so many of the words and phrases have much in common with German, French and English. Speaking Danish will often be a tongue twisting exercise for many.

The Danish language is not an easy language to master, but don't be discouraged. Many English speaking people master it quite quickly once they are immersed in the Danish culture. Especially if partake in many of the free courses offered to expats.

You will find that, when you try speaking Danish to the Danes and they realize you are English-speaking, they will start conversing in English. This is especially so with the younger generation.

English is a mandatory subject in school and the Danes really enjoy showing off their language skills. It is still important to try to learn and speak a bit of the Danish language, if for no other reason than as a sign of respect.

Take a look at the tongue-in-cheek video above to understand a bit more about the Danish language – prepare to laugh!

If you like to start learning at home, try Transparent.com, which is a very highly effective and well respected course. Will give you a big leg up in your life in Denmark.

>b>Check out the ad in the right column where you can get a free sampling of the course.

Most of the time they will either switch to English or possilby French or German, depending on where you are from. Many Danes have mastered several languages. If they do not know any other language, you will at least be able to communicate a little if you have some basic phrases.

I originally had a long list of phrases, but discovered a wonderful site that had not only many of the same phrases, but also audio to help you. So check out these common words and phrases.

You can see my list of phrases, which I think every expat should be familiar with. They will go a long way to endearing you to the Danes and helping you out in many situations. Charlie's List of Common Danish Words and Phrases.

More Language Help

Here is a list of danish vocabulary words which might help you when out shopping. I remember the first time I came to Denmark and was wondering what some of the things on the shelf were! What was the word for milk or cheese. What kind of meat is that?

You can print these lists off and have them handy when you are out shopping. My wife used these lists for months and still carries them in her purse for emergencies.

The first words are in English and than the Danish word is on the right side.

They are broken into various categories, so you can quickly find what words you need. For example, if you are reading an article on homes and don't know what the term "tag" means, just go to the Home term page and there you will find that "tag" is the word for "roof".

It is also nice to browze the lists and find other terms which you might need in certain situations. If you find words are missing which you think should be included, email us your suggestions and we will try to update regularly.

You should check out the page on Numbers , which includes some important information that can save you a lot of embarassment and confusion.

Check out this list of Danish Language Schools , where you can take courses either at home, on the internet or in a classroom setting with other expats trying to master the Danish Language.

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