Danish Vocabulary

Below you will find several lists of common words that, as an expat, you will come across at one time or another. We have found that having this list around has helped us out many times.

You may wish to copy the shopping terms down and carry them with you as you shop. When my wife first started shopping, she wrote down some of her baking terms and just showed them to the store assistant, who could then point out where it was. If she hadn't done this -

I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD ANY TASTY HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS!

Hope you find these useful.

Danish Term......................................................English Meaning

Bills and Invoices

Abonnement .................................................. rental contract/ agreement

Aconto .................................................. on account estimate

Acontoforbrug .................................................. consumption, use

Acontomoms .................................................. Tax or VAT due

Aflæsning .................................................. reading

Afregnet .................................................. account settled/paid

Afregningsbeløb .................................................. amount of bill

Afrunding .................................................. round off/round up

Beregnet årsforbrug .................................................. calculated yearly use

Betalingsfrist...................................................due date of payment

Energi-korrigeret forbrug..........................................................corrected energy use

Enhedspris.......................................................unit price

Forbrug..........................................................use

Forfaldsdato.....................................................payment due date

Forrige..........................................................last/previous

Gasart...........................................................kind of gas

I alt (or ialt) at betale...........................................................total (in all) to pay

faktura..........................................................invoice

fakturadato......................................................invoice date

fakturanr........................................................invoice number

Kunde .........................................................customer

Kundenummer .....................................................customer or account number

Kvartal .........................................................quarter or quarterly

Kvartalsafgifter.................................................quarterly costs

Moms.............................................................tax

Målerstand.......................................................meter stand

Netto............................................................net amount due

Opkrævet.................................................(earlier) billed

Opvarming........................................................heating

Regning..........................................................bill

Regningsbeløb....................................................amount of bill

Regningsdato.....................................................date of bill

Resultat.........................................................total cost

Samtaleafgifter..................................................costs of phone calls

Slutdato.........................................................ending date

Startaflæsning...................................................beginning reading

Start dato.............................................................beginning date

Telefonafgifter..................................................telephone service charge

Entertainment and Attractions

Akvarium.........................................................aquarium

Biograf..........................................................movie theatre

Bowlingbane......................................................bowling lane

Bowlingcenter....................................................bowling alley

Cirkus...........................................................circus

Dans.............................................................dance

Kino.............................................................cinema

Koncert..........................................................concert

Natklub..........................................................nightclub

Orkester.........................................................orchestra

Spil.............................................................play

Symfoni..........................................................symphony

Teater...........................................................theater

Trylleri.........................................................magic

Undertekst.......................................................subtitle

Food and Shopping

Til bagning ....................................................... For Baking

Bagepulver ......................................................baking powder

Natron ..........................................................baking soda

Smør ............................................................butter

Kakao ...........................................................cocoa

Kokosmel ........................................................coconut

Majsmel .........................................................corn flour

Maizena .........................................................cornstarch

Hjorteaksalt ....................................................Cream of tartar

æg ..............................................................Egg

Mel .............................................................flour

Hvedemel ........................................................All-purpose white flour

Grahamsmel ......................................................graham wheat

Rugmel ..........................................................rye wheat

Hvedemel ........................................................whole wheat flour

Honning .........................................................honey

Syltetøj/marmelade ..............................................jam

Gelé ............................................................jelly/gelatin

Svinefedt/spæk ..................................................lard

Margarine........................................................margarine

Dej .............................................................pastry dough

Salatolie .......................................................Salad oil

Sucker/stødt melis ............................................. Sugar

Brun farin .......................................................... Dark brown sugar

Lys farin ...................................................... light brown sugar

Flormelis/glasur ................................................powdered/confectioner’s/icing

Gær .............................................................yeast

Brød ........................................................... bread

Rugbrød .........................................................black bread/pumpernickel

Grovbrød ....................................................... coarse textured bread

Croissant ...................................................... flaky roll

Tebirkes ........................................................flaky roll with poppyseeds

Grovbolle ...................................................... heavy textured roll

Pølsebrød ...................................................... hot dog buns

Fransk flute ................................................... long thin loaf

Aflangt brød ................................................... oval loaf

Rosinbrød ...................................................... raisin bread

Rund brød ...................................................... round loaf

Rugbrød ........................................................ rye bread

Toastbrød ...................................................... sandwich bread

Mini flutes .................................................... short loaves

Surbrød ........................................................ sourdough bread

Bolle .......................................................... sweet round bun

Valnøddebrød ................................................... walnut bread

Fransk brød .................................................... white bread

Hvedebrød ...................................................... whole wheat bread

Mælkeprodukter ................................................. dairy products

(Note: Most dairy products will have two dates on the packaging: one for the date of production and packaging [Pakket] and one for the expiration date [Mindst holdbar til]).

Smør ............................................................Butter

Kaffefløde ..................................................... coffee cream

Piskefløde ..................................................... whipping cream

Is ............................................................. ice cream

Margarine ..................................................... margarine

Plantemargarine ............................................... plant margarine

Mælk .......................................................... milk

Kærnemælk ...................................................... buttermilk

Homogeniseret mælk ............................................. homogenized milk

Let mælk ....................................................... low fat milk

Skummetmælk .................................................... skim milk

Sød mælk ....................................................... whole milk

Crème fraiche .................................................. sour cream

Yoghurt ........................................................ yogurt

Naturel ........................................................ Plain

Med frugt ...................................................... with fruit

NOTE: Oops, I have changed the format and it is now English term first and than the Danish term. Did not realize that I had done that and instead of going through and changing everything back, I will just let you know that I realise that I made a mistake.

Fish and Shellfish

Anchovy......................................................ansjos

Catfish......................................................havkat

Cod......................................................torsk

Crab.......................................................krabbe

Eel............................................................ål

Smoked eel ............................................. røget ål

Flounder.................................................skrubbe

Frog..........................................................frø

Frogs legs............................................... frølår

Halibut ........................................... helle flynder

Herring .................................................... sild

Lobster .................................................. hummer

Mackerel ................................................. makrel

Mussel ................................................ muslinger

Octopus ............................................. blæksprutte

Oyster ................................................... østers

Plaice ................................................ rødspætte

Red snapper ............................................ rød fisk

Salmon ..................................................... laks

Smoked salmon ........................................ røget laks

Sardines ............................................... sardiner

Scallops ........................................... kammuslinger

Shellfish ............................................... skaldyr

Shrimp .................................................... rejer

Snails ................................................... snegle

Sole ...................................................... tunge

Trout ..................................................... ørred

Tuna .................................................... tunfisk

Turtle ............................................... skildpadde

Fruit

Apple ...................................................... æble

Apricot ................................................. abrikos

Banana .................................................... banan

Blueberry ................................................ blåbær

Cherry ................................................. kirsebær

Currants ............................................... korender

Dates .................................................... dadler

Fig ....................................................... figen

Grapes ................................................. vindruer

Lemon .................................................... citron

Lime ....................................................... lime

Mango ..................................................... mango

Nectarine .............................................. nektarin

Orange ................................................. appelsin

Peach ................................................... fersken

Pear ........................................................ pær

Pineapple ................................................ ananas

Pomegranate .............................................. blomme

Prune .................................................... sveske

Raisins ................................................. rosiner

Raspberry ............................................... hindbær

Rhubarb ................................................ rabarber

Strawberry .............................................. jordbær

Tangerine ............................................ clementine

Watermelon .............................................vandmelon

Herbs and Spices

Allspice .............................................. allehånde

Almond ................................................... mandel

Aniseed .................................................... anis

Basil ................................................. basilikum

Bayleaf .............................................. laubærblad

Caper .................................................... capers

Caraway .................................................. kommen

Cayenne ........................................... cayenne peber

Chili powder ....................................... chili pulver

Chives ................................................... purløg

Cinnamon .................................................. kanel

Cloves ................................................. nelliker

Coriander ............................................. koriander

Curry ..................................................... karry

Dill ....................................................... dild

Ginger .................................................. ingefær

Horseradish ............................................ peberrød

Marjoram ................................................. merian

Mint ...................................................... mynte

Mustard .................................................. sennep

Nutmeg ................................................ muskatnød

Oregano ................................................. oregano

Paprika ................................................. paprika

Parsley ................................................ persille

Pepper .................................................... peber

Black ................................................ sort peber

White ................................................ hvid peber

Pepper corns .......................................... peberkorn

Poultry seasoning .............................. fjerkræ krydderi

Rosemary ............................................... rosmarin

Sage ..................................................... salvie

Sesame seeds ........................................... sesamfrø

Terragon ............................................... esdragon

Thyme .................................................... timian

Vanilla ................................................. vanille

Vinegar .................................................. eddike

Meat

Beef .................................................... Oksekød

Center cut of tenderloin ........................... oksefilet

End cut of tenderloin .............................. tournedos

Flank steak ........................................... flank

Liver .................................................. lever

Loin/tenderloin ........................................ filet

Pot roast .......................................... grydesteg

Ribs of beef ....................................... entrecote

Rump steak ........................................ halestykke

Stew meat ............................................ små kød

Veal ................................................... Kalvekød

Breast of veal .................................... kalvebryst

Calves liver ...................................... kalvelever

Ground veal .................................. hakket kalvekød

Loin of veal ................................... kalve mørbrad

Veal chops ...................................... kalvekotelet

Veal cutlet ................................... kalveschnitzel

Lamb .................................................. Lammekød

Breast of lamb ................................... lammebryst

Loin .................................................. filet

Rib chops ................................... lammekoteletter

Rib roast .......................................... lammeryg

Whole leg of lamb ................................ lammekølle

Pork .................................................. Svinekød

Bacon ................................................. bacon

Fresh ham ......................................... skinkekød

Ground pork ................................ hakket flæskekød

Pork chops ................................... svinekoeletter

Salt-cured ham .............................. røget skinkekød

Spare ribs ....................................... spare ribs

Tenderloin ..................................... svinemørbrad

Smoked tenderloin ........................... hamburgerryg

Poultry ................................................ Fjerkræ

Chicken ............................................. kylling

Chicken livers ................................ kyllingelever

Cornish hen ......................................... poussin

Duck .................................................... and

Duck breast .................................... andebryst

Goose .................................................. gås

Pheasant ............................................. fasan

Turkey .............................................. kalkun

Nuts

Almonds ................................................. mandler

Cashew nuts ............................... cashewnød (acajounød)

Chestnuts ............................................. kastanier

Coconut ................................................ kokosnød

Hazelnuts .......................................... hasselnødder

Peanuts .............................................. jordnødder

Pistachio nuts ................................. .pistacie nødder

Walnuts ............................................... valnødder

Vegetables

Artichoke .............................................. artiskok

Asparagus .............................................. asparges

Avocado ................................................. avocado

Beans .................................................... bønner

Beets .................................................. rødbeder

Broccoli ............................................... broccoli

Brussels Sprouts ....................................... rosenkål

Cabbage ..................................................... kål

Red cabbage ............................................. rød kål

Green cabbage ........................................... grønkål

White cabbage ........................................... hvidkål

Carrots .............................................. gulerødder

Cauliflower ............................................. blomkål

Celery ............................................... blegseleri

Corn ....................................................... majs

Cucumber .................................................. agurk

Eggplant .............................................. aubergine

Endive ................................................... endive

Fennel ................................................. fennikel

Garlic ................................................. hvidløg

Leek ..................................................... porre

Lentils ................................................. linser

Lettuce ................................................... salat

Head lettuce ...................................... salathoved

Mushroom ............................................. champignon

Onion ....................................................... løg

Parsnips .............................................. pasternak

Peas ...................................................... ærter

Pepper .................................................... peber

Green pepper ......................................... grøn peber

Red pepper ............................................ rød peber

Pickles ......................................... syltede agurker

Potatoes .............................................. kartofler

Sweet potato ..................................... søde kartofler

Pumpkin ................................................. græskar

Radish .................................................... radis

Spinach .................................................. spinat

Squash ................................ squash/zucchini/courgette

Tomato .................................................... tomat

Turnip ................................................... majroe

Watercress ........................................... brøndkarse

Zucchini ....................................... squash/courgette