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Luciadag: St. Lucy’s Day in Denmark

St. Lucy’s Day is a festive, cozy holiday in Denmark, celebrated not long before Christmas each year. In this article, you’ll learn all about St. Lucy’s Day, from who Lucy was to how Danish people celebrate the holiday today.

At DanishClass101.com, we aim to make every aspect of your language-learning process both fun and informative—starting with this article!

Are you ready? Let’s go.

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1. What is St. Lucy’s Day?

The Danish celebrate St. Lucy’s Day in the same month as Christmas, but don’t be fooled! This holiday, and the woman it’s named after, really have nothing to do with Christmas.

So who was Lucy? Read the following Danish text to find out, and then test your reading skills against the English text directly below it.

Legenden siger, at Lucia var en ung kristen kvinde, som nægtede at tilbede den romerske kejser og blev derfor dræbt og døde som martyr. Hun hjalp de fattige og syge, og det siges, hun bar lys på sit hoved, så begge hænder var frie.

The legend says that Lucy was a young Christian woman who refused to worship the Roman emperor, and as a result, was murdered and died a martyr. It’s claimed that she carried a light on her head when she cared for the old and sick to ensure her hands were free.

2. When is the Feast of St. Lucy?

Beautiful Sunset

Each year, the Danish celebrate the Feast of Saint Lucy on December 13.

3. St. Lucy’s Day Celebrations & Traditions

Sheet Music

How do the Danish celebrate Saint Lucy’s Day?

On St. Lucy’s Day, Denmark’s main event is the St. Lucy’s parades in kindergartens and elementary schools.

A St. Lucy’s parade involves kids dressing in white gowns with a red band around their waist, each with a lit candle and guided by a “St. Lucy’s bride.” The front guide representing St. Lucy is usually a girl, but could also be a boy. The St. Lucy’s bride carries a crown or a wreath on her head with four lit candles.

During the St. Lucy’s parade, a song about Lucy is played; this song explains how Lucy brings light to the darkness and spreads joy. After the parade, everyone eats Lucy-bread, which are sweet wheat rolls with a taste of saffron.

Oftentimes, these Saint Lucy celebration parades aren’t limited to the school. Rather, the children take their parade through nursing homes, churches, and even in the streets in order to further spread the holiday spirit!

Naturally, the adults who accompany the St. Lucy’s parades are nervous about the burning candles that the kids carry in their hands. This is why they always stand by with a bucket of water in case the candles’ flames light anything on fire.

Churches will usually hold some kind of special Christmas-related event during this holiday to attract more people on St. Lucy Feast Day.

4. Longest Night of the Year

Now that you know about Saint Lucy’s Feast Day, do you know what they call the night of December 13 and 14?

They call it Lussenatten—a name that originates from Sweden, where Lussenatten, according to the Julian calendar, was the longest night of the year. But in the morning, while it was still dark, one would wake up to Lucy (or the young girl on the farm) standing by their bed with food and drink on a tray.

5. Essential St. Lucy’s Day Vocabulary

Female Saint

Here’s some vocabulary you need to know for Saint Lucy Day in Denmark!

  • Hvid — “White”
  • Brød — “Bread”
  • Skole — “School
  • Kirke — “Church”
  • Sang — “Song”
  • Lys — “Light”
  • Italiensk helgeninde — “Italian female saint”
  • Martyrdød — “Martyrdom”
  • Årets korteste dag — “Shortest day of the year”
  • Optog — “Procession”
  • Brud — “Bride”
  • Krone — “Crown”

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to visit our Danish St. Lucy’s Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

What are your thoughts on St. Lucy’s Day? Are there similar holidays or celebrations in your country during December? Let us know in the comments; we always love hearing from you!

Learning about a country’s culture may be the most fascinating and enriching aspect of trying to master its language. If you want more information about Denmark and her people, or perhaps some more wintery vocabulary, you may find the following pages useful:

Learning Danish doesn’t have to be a boring or overwhelming process—with DanishClass101.com, it can even be fun!

If you’re serious about mastering the language, but don’t have time any unnecessary hassles, create your free lifetime account today!

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DanishClass101’s Essential Danish Travel Phrase Guide

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Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to Denmark. Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag – another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East?

Well, we won’t know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate.

To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at DanishClass101! Why don’t you take the time to study Danish travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your Danish friends or travel guide with your flawless Danish!

Table of Contents

  1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases
  2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words
  3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases
  4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country
  5. DanishClass101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

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1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases

Impressing Danish people or your travel partners will be the least of the benefits you reap from learning these helpful phrases. These are greater ones:

1) Eliminate Travel Frustration: First of all, you’ll be able to cut out a good chunk of travel frustration and inconvenience due to language barriers.

Know how to pronounce and use at least the basic Danish phrases, and then just look foreign. This should go a long way to help you get by and win you friends, because locals would be more inclined to help someone who took the trouble to learn a smidgen of their language.

Injured Woman In An Ambulance

2) Emergency Readiness: In case of an emergency, you will be able to get help a lot quicker if you know how to ask for what in Danish. Imagine miming to a doctor or nurse that you have a sore ear but that you’re allergic to penicillin. Not so easy, right?

Rather, you should know basic emergency travel phrases, especially if you suffer from a serious condition. Also, information about life-threatening allergies you have should always be on your person in the language of the country you’re visiting.

3) Sight-Seeing Readiness: Hopefully, you also travel to learn more about a country’s culture. Visiting the main tourist sites in Denmark will be more interesting if you know how to ask pertinent questions in Danish.

In this blog, we’ll also be giving you important travel phrases to consider – from the 13 essential must-have phrases to ones that are just generally useful and good to know.

Let’s get cracking!

2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words

Preparing to Travel

Seasoned explorers of multiple countries will tell you that certain words and phrases are absolute must-knows in anyone’s travel vocabulary. Learning from them, we collated some of the most essential ones here for you.

If you know these travel phrases and words by heart in Danish, you will be much better equipped for your visit than most of your movie-binging travel mates.

1) Tak (Thank you)

As a tourist, you will be relying on the kindness of strangers to get by. Repay them with a small acknowledgment of their friendly generosity – know how to say “thank you” in Danish.

2) Taler du engelsk? (Do you speak English?)

While it may be a bit of a cop-out, sometimes you just can’t figure out how to communicate. Maybe you’re blanking on one specific word you need, maybe they’re speaking with a heavy accent, or maybe it’s just really late and you really want to get to the hotel. In that case, try asking if they speak English, and hopefully you can make things a little bit simpler for yourself.

Don’t abuse this phrase, though! If you just try to get by without learning any of the local language, not only will you not learn anything – you’ll be out of luck if they can’t speak English!

Man Greeting Someone

3) Er der en bus fra lufthavnen ind til byen? (Is there a bus from the airport to the city?)

Public transit is usually cheaper, if slower, than taking a taxi or rideshare. Use this phrase to see if you can get where you’re going when you’re strapped for cash, or just when you’d like to take the scenic route into town!

4) Er dette den rigtige bus til lufthavnen? (Is this the right bus for the airport?)

Likewise, if you’re the kind of person who can get themselves moving early (or maybe you just have a late flight), maybe you want to take the bus to the airport rather than taking a cab. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be sure you’re actually heading the right way! You wouldn’t want to end up at a lookout point half an hour away, watching your flight take off in the distance, would you?

5) Undskyld mig, hvad er billetprisen? (Excuse me, what’s the fare?)

If you are paying for a cab, you’ll want to know how much. Most legal taxis will have meters, but when dealing with a currency you’re not familiar with, it can be worth asking just to double check that you’re paying the right amount – especially if the currency has cents.

6) Jeg har en reservation (I have a reservation)

This one you can expect to use at least a few times throughout your trip, unless you’re the kind of person who travels by the seat of their pants and just goes to whatever hotel, motel, or hostel has rooms available.

7) Har du nogle ledige værelser i aften? (Do you have any vacancies tonight?)

If that’s the case, you’ll definitely be using this phrase instead. Quite possibly a lot, depending on how lucky you are!

Couple with a Map

8 ) Hvor er togstationen? (Where is the train station?)

If you’re in a country with an expansive commuter rail system (or maybe just a fan of other types of locomotives), you may want to know where the closest station is. Just don’t go looking for pennies on the rails!

9) Jeg er allergisk over for jordnødder (I am allergic to peanuts)

Replace “peanuts” with whatever the word for your allergen may be. If your allergy is serious, you probably already know the importance of stating this very clearly in Danish.

If the condition is life-threatening, be sure to have a letter or prescription from a medical professional in Danish on your person at all times. Consider getting a medical alert bracelet specially made in Danish if your stay will be longer than a month or so.

Person Declining Meat

10) Har I nogle vegetarretter? (Do you have any vegetarian dishes?)

If you dislike eating certain things, or you have certain dietary restrictions, it would be best if you knew how to convey this clearly in Danish.

Remember, though, that saying “I’m vegan” or “I’m diabetic” may not be enough to get you what you want. The rules for veganism and vegetarianism are not standard everywhere in the world. Also, your patron might not understand what “diabetic” means. If you have a medical condition, it would be best to research some in-depth vocabulary beforehand.

11) Kan jeg få et kort? (Could I get a map?)

Planning on exploring your destination? Hopelessly lost? Maybe just an amateur cartographer? No matter the reason, this phrase is sure to come in handy. That said, you’re more likely to get use out of it at some sort of tourist or travel center than you are asking a random passerby on the street.

12) Hvor meget koster det? (How much is this?)

Even if you’re not a big shopper, you’re probably going to need this phrase at some point. Knowing how to count in Danish will, of course, help a lot with purchases too.

13) Tager du kreditkort? (Do you take credit card?)

This is another travel phrase that will smooth your monetary transactions considerably.

Man Giving Credit Card to a Clerk

3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases

Travel Verbs

Unlike the previous phrases, these are not really essential so much as they are useful. Yet, knowing these will still smooth over some bumps on your journey, more than just knowing the crucial phrases would.

1) Er wi-fi gratis? (Is the Wi-Fi free?)

If you’re abroad, your normal cellular plans probably won’t have any service, and you’ll be totally reliant on publically available Wi-Fi while you’re out and about. Just ask a server, clerk, or attendant, and they’ll be happy to let you know. Just make sure you’re paying attention when they tell you the password!

2) Vil du være venlig at tage et billede af mig? (Could you take a picture of me please?)

What would a trip be with no photos to commemorate the event? Just be sure to ask this of someone who actually looks like they’d be willing to, unless you’re willing to risk being given the cold shoulder or worse. If you’re at a tourist attraction, you’ll find that most people are more than happy to take one for you, so long as you take one of them as well!

3) Har du nogle anbefalinger? (Do you have any recommendations?)

Eating alone in a restaurant? Or going out with new Danish friends or business colleagues? Let them help you decide what to have.

4) Jeg vil gerne bede om en ikke-rygerplads (I’d like to have a non-smoking seat, please)

Though smoking has gone out of fashion in some places, it’s still popular in others. In the event you’re at a restaurant where smoking is allowed on premises, you can always ask this question to the staff and be seated elsewhere.

5) Vand, tak (Water, please)

If you’ve emptied your glass, or are cutting yourself off after a few drinks, you can always ask for some water. It can be especially useful if the restaurant is busy to the point you need to call out to someone to get service.

6) Kan jeg få regningen? (Could I have the check?)

To finish off the restaurant related phrases, if you’re eating with friends or really want to impress your colleagues, taking the bill can be a nice treat for them. Of course, this phrase could come in handy as well if you’re eating alone and you’re just impatient to leave.

7) Hvad vil du anbefale til en souvenir? (What do you recommend for a souvenir?)

Now that your trip is over, what better way to cap it all off than a memento, or maybe a gift for friends and family at home? It’ll be nicer to have something recommended by the locals than a cheap bauble from the airport store, so go ahead and ask someone you’ve met what they think.

4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country

Survival Phrases

When traveling, it’s possible to keep communication smooth when you don’t share a language.

Do so by keeping these five tips in mind. They are aimed to help you communicate with those who cannot speak English very well, and also to keep your traveling experience pleasant!

1. Keep your English simple and easy to understand.
If the person you are talking to speaks very little English, use basic verbs, adjectives, and nouns, and keep sentences short.

However, don’t patronize them by talking in pidgin or like you would address a child. Keep your speech simple but natural, and use the correct grammar.

For instance, don’t say: “You come when?”. If you say: “When will you come?”, you will very likely be understood, and may even help someone who wants to improve their English.

2. Ask someone to write information down.
Apply Rule 1 first at your hotel, where the staff is very likely to be able to speak some English. Get them to write down, in their native language, things like: “I would like to go to the airport, please,” “Please take me to the beach,” or “Where is the closest bathroom?”

These written questions are something you can then give to taxi drivers or any other people who are willing and able to help you. This simple step could make your life a lot easier when you travel to a foreign country!

3. Avoid asking leading questions!
If you want the correct information from a non-native English speaker, that is.

When you need directions, for instance, don’t ask: “To get to the bus stop, do I need to turn left here?” If the person didn’t really understand you, you will probably just get a smile and a “Yes,” which could possibly make you miss your bus.

Rather, you should ask: “Where is the bus stop?” If they understand you, you will get the correct directions.

4. Pick the right person to ask for help.
Time to look at people and think a bit about their appearance! A younger person who looks like they might be a student is more likely to have English skills than the friendly but ancient lady smiling at you from a fruit stall.

If you don’t see anyone like that, head into town to the nearest bank, hospital, pharmacy, or hotel. The staff at those places usually speak a bit of English.

5. Know when to quit.
If you stuck to the above rules, but the person you are talking to only stares at you blankly, say thank you and leave. Hanging around hoping someone will suddenly understand and respond is just wasting your time, and may irritate them as well. Go find someone else.

5. DanishClass101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

So, reader, have you found this article helpful?

Do you feel comfortable enough to use some essential travel phrases in Danish? We’d also love to hear if you think we left out important travel phrases. Leave your suggestions and opinions in the comments!

DanishClass101 takes the lead with many free learning tools to help you master Danish reading and speaking easily, and in fun ways.

These tools include:

– An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
– A new Danish word to learn every day
– Quick access to the Danish Key Phrase List
– A free Danish online dictionary
– The excellent 100 Core Danish Word List
– An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

You will also have access to topic-specific recordings like our Before You Travel: Survival Phrases lesson.

Learn even more efficiently with the help of a personal tutor, after taking an assessment test to personalize and tailor your training.

Getting a tutor is also a good option if you meet challenges in your learning, or need to fast-track correct pronunciation and diction. Your very own friendly, Danish-speaking teacher will be only a text away on a special app, anywhere, anytime – an excellent option for business persons!

Using a guided learning system that was developed by experts in language and online education, you’ll receive personal feedback and constant support to improve in no time. You’ll also be tasked with weekly assignments in reading, writing, and speaking to hone your Danish speaking skills.

Imagine how impressed your Danish friends or colleagues will be when you display your excellent conversational skills! With DanishClass101, getting there will be easy and fun.

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How to Use Danish Numbers for Daily Usage

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Especially if you’re planning a prolonged visit to Denmark, using the correct Danish numbers for counting in Danish could be very important! Number systems are the other alphabet in any language. In fact, it is a language all of its own, and it serves a multitude of excellent purposes.

Table of Contents

  1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems
  2. Why is it Important to Learn Danish Numbers?
  3. Learning Danish Numbers
  4. Why Choose DanishClass101 to Learn all about Danish Numbers?

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1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems

Abacus

1. The Ishango Bone

The origin of counting, and with it numbers, is not clear to historians. While their art showed that prehistoric man had a concept of numbers, the first indication of a formal system was found to be only between 20,000 and 35,000 thousand years old. This discovery came around 1960 in the form of the so-called Ishango Bone found in the Congo, Central Africa.

The 10cm/4 inch piece of bone was a fibula from a baboon. It showed markings with a neat, unified pattern of small lines – far too organized and sophisticated to have formed spontaneously. Archeologists believe that those thin markings were carved to keep score of, or count, something. The lines seemed to represent a sequence of prime numbers and a series of duplications. Some even called it the first-ever pocket calculator!

2. Mesopotamia and Greece

Yet, evidence suggests that it wasn’t until about 4,000 years ago that humans truly started counting and using numbers. Together with the development of civilization came developed agriculture, and the need for measurement and score-keeping was increased.

For this reason, a formal number system and mathematics were developed first in the Middle East, in what was then called Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was roughly situated in the area of modern-day Iraq and Kuwait. Allegedly, the system was pretty simple at first. Citizens used tokens that represented a certain number of items, such as one token equalling four goats, etc. This eventually evolved into a system of score marks pressed into clay, which ultimately went on to influence Greek mathematics.

3. Hindu-Arabic Numbers

Zero, meanwhile, was conceived later and elsewhere. Inspired by the Hindu religion, which allows for the concept of infinity and eternity, the Indians invented a symbol to represent nothing. The magic of the zero lies not in itself but its combination with other numbers.

The Indians were also the creators of today’s numbers, which are often referred to as Hindu-Arabic numbers. These comprise one or a combination of just ten symbols or digits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0.

Europe learned of this numeric system only around 1200 A.D., when they were introduced to it by an Italian mathematician called Leonardo Pisano Bigollo.

Pisano, also known as Fibonacci, is famous for the discovery of a mathematical sequence with countless applications. Yes, math buffs, it’s the well-known Fibonacci sequence, also called the Golden Mean.

The Roman numeric system, which was clumsy next to the newer inventions, gradually lost popularity in the West. It’s from here that they “slowly spread to conquer the world,” as Steven Law puts it.

2. Why is it Important to Learn Danish Numbers?

For us at DanishClass101, this is an easy question to answer! Because we know that numbers are a global unifier.

Counting and numbers have made our lives easier since they were first formulated, even in their most primitive forms.

Numbers in Industry

Without knowing your numbers, you can’t properly communicate about or deal with the following:

1) Your date/time of birth, i.e., your age: This is vital information to be able to give to people like doctors, employers, law enforcement, and so forth.

2) Banking: Worldwide, our monetary systems are built on numbers. Interest, credit scores, and loans all rely on math beyond simple finger counting.

3) Time: Without knowing how to say numbers, you can’t talk or ask about the time and expect to get a useful response. You don’t want to miss an appointment or schedule something for the wrong hour!

4) Ordering data: Numbers bring order to a mostly random life! Scientists even say that numbers and the way they are organized underpin the whole universe. From using them to count your meals’ calories and the number of likes your posts get on social media, to drawing up intricate data charts and explaining existence itself – numbers are what makes these things possible.

All of the above and more are reasons why it is important to know your numbers if you plan on travelling or becoming a foreign worker abroad, in Denmark or anywhere else!

Little Girl Counting

3. Learning Danish Numbers

Now, let’s explore the Danish number system a bit more! Take a look at this infographic.

Language Numbers

Can you make out for yourself what the Danish numbers between one (1) and nine (9) look and sound like? Easy, right?

Or, if you struggled a bit, no problem. Why not listen to how Danish numbers one (1) through ten (10) sound when pronounced by our native Danish speaker and friendly DanishClass101 teacher?

Then, share with us in the comments your native language’s romanized pronunciation of your number system. We’d love to see all the different ways the same numbers can be pronounced!

Hand With a Thumbs Up

When you have mastered the first ten numbers, you have basically nailed the most significant part of the number system. Well done! Curious to learn the numbers from eleven upward? No problem! Why not subscribe and enroll with us now to immediately enjoy this lesson, teaching you all about Danish numbers eleven (11) to one hundred (100)?

Finally, if you’re curious how the numbers look once you’ve broken one hundred, why not check out our Danish number vocabulary page? You can see the numbers we’ve just covered, all the way up to four thousand (4,000). Plus, you can also see the Danish words for different numbers used in example sentences, to get an idea of how you can use them in your day-to-day conversations!

4. Why Choose DanishClass101 to Learn all about Danish Numbers?

DanishClass101, like all Innovative Language Learning ventures, takes the pain out of learning a new language by adding a lot of fun. It’s never an easy thing to learn a new language, but we formulated all your lessons so they’re nicely bite-sized, and geared to keep you motivated!

Also, we created a great number of fantastic tools to help keep struggle and boredom out of the learning process.

  • Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn – what a beautiful cycle! DanishClass101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective, and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect with! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Danish!
  • Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
  • Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Danish with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Danish dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about DanishClass101…!
  • Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Danish teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
  • Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Danish word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Danish level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

So, why wait? Sign up with DanishClass101 right away! Also, let us know in the comments if you’ve used this blog post, or any of the free lessons anywhere to master Danish numbers. Or, even better – share your birthdate using what you’ve learned!

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How To Post In Perfect Danish on Social Media

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You’re learning to speak Danish, and it’s going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Danish.

At Learn Danish, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Danish in the process.

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1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Danish

Eating out is fun, and often an experience you’d like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Danish. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills…and perhaps your taste in restaurants!

Hans eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of the group eating, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Hans’s post.

Vi er godt i gang med hovedretten. Mums mums!
“We are well underway with the main course. Yum yum!”

1- Vi er godt i gang med hovedretten.

First is an expression meaning “We are well underway with the main course.”
You can also replace “main course” with other nouns to make it clear that you’ve been busy with it for some time.

2- Mums mums!

Then comes the phrase – “Yum yum!”
Use this phrase when expressing that something is tasty, such as food or drinks. Mostly children use this phrase, so if you’re an adult saying it to another adult, it’s clear that you’re in a playful, humorous mood. It is inadvisable that you use this in serious conversation, though. You might furthermore be mistaken for trying to make people jealous if you post a picture of your food online, so be careful.

COMMENTS

In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

1- Er da slet ikke misundelig…

His girlfriend, Johanne, uses an expression meaning – “Not envious at all…”
This is an ironic or slightly sarcastic or ironic comment, with the intent to joke a bit. It means that you are actually envious!

2- Hvor var min invitation?

His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Where was my invitation?”
This is yet another way to express that you’re envious of whatever the poster is experiencing, and it indicates that you feel a bit left out. If you know the people well, it will be clear to them whether or not you’re seriously complaining, or just having some fun with them.

3- Det ser hyggeligt ud.

His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “It looks cozy.”
Use this to express that you think the scene looks pleasant and comfortable.

4- Velbekomme!

His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Bon appetit!”
This is a loan-expression from French that means: “Eat well!” It is commonly used to wish someone a tasty meal in many Germanic languages.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • hovedret: “main course”
  • slet ikke: “not at all”
  • misundelig: “envious”
  • invitation: “invitation”
  • se ud: “to look”
  • hyggelig: “cozy, enjoyable, homely”
  • velbekomme: “bon appetit”
  • So, let’s practice a bit. If a friend posted something about having dinner with friends, which phrase would you use?

    Now go visit a Danish restaurant, and wow the staff with your language skills!

    2. Post about Your Mall Visit in Danish

    Another super topic for social media is shopping—everybody does it, most everybody loves it, and your friends on social media are probably curious about your shopping sprees! Share these Danish phrases in posts when you visit a mall.

    Johanne shop with her sister at the mall, posts an image of the two of them in a shop, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    På shoppetur med hende her inden hun rejser. Der skal shoppes amok!
    “On a shopping spree with this one before she leaves. There will be crazy shopping!”

    1- På shoppetur med hende her inden hun rejser.

    First is an expression meaning “On a shopping spree with this one before she leaves.”
    Use this phrase when you’re on an outing with a woman who is important to you, but whose name you do not wish to mention. The context here is that the lady will be leaving soon somewhere, which is why the spree is happening in the first place.

    2- Der skal shoppes amok!

    Then comes the phrase – “There shall be crazy shopping!”
    Use phrase to emphasize that you will probably return home with several bags full of new things. The phrase often appears in its imperative form during times of big sales.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- I ser fantastiske ud! Bare vær sikre på, I kan bære alle de poser!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “You look fabulous! Just make sure you can carry all those bags!”
    Use this expression to be funny, while also giving a compliment.

    2- Hvor ser I bare godt ud begge to. Hvor rejser hun hen nu?

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “How great both of you look. Where is she going now?”
    Use this expression to share an opinion about the poster and her sister’s appearance, and ask a question to show your interest in the sister’s plans. This is a good way to keep a conversation well oiled.

    3- Husk nu at spare lidt penge til turen.

    Her boyfriend, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “Remember to save a little money for the trip.”
    This is a reminder to be frugal; the context is that there is clearly a pending trip somewhere that the poster needs to save for.

    4- I har da ikke brug for mere tøj.

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “You guys surely don’t need more clothes.”
    Use this expression to share your opinion about the poster and her sister’s amount of clothes. The phrase is probably better used if you know them well, or it could be misconstrued as criticism.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • shoppetur: “shopping spree”
  • bære: “to carry”
  • pose: “bag”
  • se godt ud: “look good”
  • spare: “to save”
  • have brug for: “to need”
  • tøj: “clothes”
  • So, if a friend posted something about going shopping, which phrase would you use?

    3. Talking about a Sport Day in Danish

    Sporting events, whether you’re the spectator or the sports person, offer fantastic opportunity for great social media posts. Learn some handy phrases and vocabulary to start a sport-on-the-beach conversation in Danish.

    Hans plays with his friends at the beach, posts an image of the team, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Så skal der smashes i beach volley! Kom bare an!
    “Now there will be smashes in beach volleyball! Just bring it on!”

    1- Så skal der smashes i beach volley!

    First is an expression meaning “Now, there will be smashes in beach volleyball!”
    You can use this phrase to indicate that you’re about to or are already playing beach volleyball with enthusiasm. “Smashes i beach volley” can be replaced with other activities as well.

    2- Kom bare an!

    Then comes the phrase – “Just bring it on!”
    This phrase is often used towards an opponent or when discussing a challenging task to indicate that you’re ready for it.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Det har du da aldrig været særligt god til.

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Surely, you’ve never been particularly good at that.”
    Use this expression to tease the poster about his sports abilities.

    2- Fedt! Hvor længe bliver I på stranden?

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “Cool! How long will you stay at the beach?”
    Use this expression to indicate your enthusiasm for the game, and ask a question for more details.

    3- Som om…

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “As if…”
    Use this expression when you’re in a humorous, slightly derisive mood. This expression pretends to indicate that you don’t think much of the poster’s sport skills.

    4- Nu skal du ikke komme ind på kontoret med en brækket næse på mandag.

    His supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Now, don’t come into the office with a broken nose on Monday.”
    This is an admonition to be careful playing sports, suggesting a bad scenario to make it slightly humorous.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • smashe: “to smash”
  • særlig: “special, particular”
  • fed: “cool, fat”
  • som om: “as if”
  • kontor: “office”
  • brækket: “broken”
  • næse: “nose”
  • Which phrase would you use if a friend posted something about sports?

    But sport is not the only thing you can play! Play some music, and share it on social media.

    4. Share a Song on Social Media in Danish

    Music is the language of the soul, they say. So, don’t hold back—share what touches your soul with your friends!

    Johanne shares a song she just heard at a party, posts an image of the artist, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Hallo folkens! Hvorfor har ingen fortalt mig om ham her før?!
    “Hey guys! Why has no one told me about this guy before?!”

    1- Hallo folkens!

    First is an expression meaning “Hey guys!”
    This phrase is often used when addressing or heartily trying to get the attention of a group of people, such as your friends or online followers.

    2- Hvorfor har ingen fortalt mig om ham her før?!

    Then comes the phrase – “Why has no one told me about this guy before?!”
    With this phrase, you can ask a very important question. Here, you’re referring to a male that you didn’t know about before this moment, suggesting that you’re impressed with him.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- YES! Min nye yndlingssang!!!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “YES! My new favorite song!!!”
    Use this expression to agree enthusiastically with the poster’s sentiment that the music is good.

    2- Fordi du er gammel.

    Her nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “Because you’re old.”
    Use this expression to sarcastically make fun of the poster’s age. If you don’t have a relaxed, good relationship with the poster, this could be misconstrued as an insult, but among friends, it shouldn’t be a problem.

    3- Åh nej, ikke den sang…

    Her supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Oh no, not that song…”
    Use this expression to indicate that you don’t like the song.

    4- Skal vi høre ham, når han kommer til byen?

    Her boyfriend, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “Should we hear him when he comes to town?”
    Use this expression to make a suggestion that you and poster attend a concert of the singer’s.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • hvorfor: “why”
  • før: “before”
  • fortælle: “to tell”
  • yndlingssang: “favorite song”
  • gammel: “old”
  • åh nej: “oh no”
  • by: “city”
  • Which song would you share? And what would you say to a friend who posted something about sharing music or videos?

    Now you know how to start a conversation about a song or a video on social media!

    5. Danish Social Media Comments about a Concert

    Still on the theme of music—visiting live concerts and shows just have to be shared with your friends. Here are some handy phrases and vocab to wow your followers in Danish!

    Hans goes to a concert, posts an image of the stage, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’s post.

    Kun 4 meter fra scenen! Det er for vildt!
    “Only 4 meters from the stage! It’s too crazy!”

    1- Kun 4 meter fra scenen!

    First is an expression meaning “Only 4 meters from the stage!”
    You can use this phrase to indicate that you’re physically very close to a specific stage. It means you’re excited about this, and want to brag about it a bit.

    2- Det er for vildt!

    Then comes the phrase – “It is too crazy!”
    This phrase is used when indicating that something is so amazingly awesome that it’s crazy. It literally means that something is “too wild,” which is an exaggeration that indicates enthusiasm and high energy, like when you take amusement park rides.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Sikke du kan, Hans. God koncert!

    His supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Look at you, Hans. Have a nice concert!”
    Use this expression to indicate you’re happy for the poster’s good fortune, and are wishing them a positive experience.

    2- Troede du hadede den her slags musik…

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “Thought you hated this kind of music…”
    Use this expression if this is true for you, or if you’re messing around a bit with the poster.

    3- Hey, jeg står helt foran scenen!!! Kan du se mig? Prøver at vinke…

    His girlfriend’s high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Hey, I am standing all the way in front of the stage!!! Can you see me? Will try to wave…”
    Use these lines if you’re also at the concert and would like to meet up with the poster.

    4- Ring lige, hvis de spiller den nye single!!!

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Call me if they play the new single!!!”
    This phrase is suitable for use if you want to poster to share a live experience of a specific song with you via the phone or vidcam.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • scene: “stage, scene”
  • koncert: “concert”
  • hade: “to hate”
  • slags: “kind, sort”
  • foran: “in front of”
  • vinke: “to wave”
  • spille: “to play”
  • If a friend posted something about a concert, which phrase would you use?

    6. Talking about an Unfortunate Accident in Danish

    Oh dear. You broke your phone by accident. Use these Danish phrases to start a thread on social media. Or maybe just to let your friends know why you are not contacting them!

    Johanne accidentally breaks her mobile phone, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Én ulykke kommer sjældent alene… Fang mig på Facebook!
    “Misfortunes never come one at a time… Catch me on Facebook!”

    1- Én ulykke kommer sjælendt alene…

    First is an expression meaning “Misfortunes never come singly…”
    Like in English, this proverb is used when something goes wrong, and you expect more to go wrong. It literally means “one accident rarely comes alone”.

    2- Fang mig på Facebook!

    Then comes the phrase – “Catch me on Facebook!”
    This is a convenient phrase to use when you want people to know that they should get ahold of you on Facebook if they need to. This usually indicates that you no longer have your phone or that it’s broken; that’s why you’re most likely to respond to messages through Facebook.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Åh nej, søde. Ikke igen…

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Oh no, sweetie. Not again…”
    Use this phrase if you know the poster has broken her phone before, and want to show your sympathy for her plight.

    2- I det mindste var det ikke i toilettet. Eller var det?!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “At least it wasn’t in the toilet. Or was it?!”
    Use this expression when you’re feeling humorous.

    3- Bare rolig. Jeg har en ekstra, du kan låne.

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t worry. I have an extra you can borrow.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling helpful and have a spare phone.

    4- Slut med selfies.

    Her nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “No more selfies.”
    Use this expression to make a slightly sarcastic, humorous statement just to be part of the conversation.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • ulykke: “accident, misfortune, unhappiness, misery”
  • sjælden: “rare, unusual”
  • toilet: “toilet”
  • sød: “sweet”
  • i det mindste: “at least”
  • låne: “to borrow, to lend”
  • slut med: “no more”
  • If a friend posted something about having broken something by accident, which phrase would you use?

    So, now you know how to describe an accident in Danish. Well done!

    7. Chat about Your Boredom on Social Media in Danish

    Sometimes, we’re just bored with how life goes. And to alleviate the boredom, we write about it on social media. Add some excitement to your posts by addressing your friends and followers in Danish!

    Hans gets bored at home, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’s post.

    Nederen aften uden planer… Hvem kan lege?
    “Bummer evening without plans… Who can play?”

    1- Nederen aften uden planer…

    First is an expression meaning “Bummer evening without plans…”
    This phrase is used when expressing disappointment about your evening because you have no plans to keep busy or have fun. You can use the noun “nederen” on its own to express a depressed state of mind, or to say that something disappoints you or makes you uncomfortable.

    2- Hvem kan lege?

    Then comes the phrase – “Who can play?”
    This question is most often used by children, but you might also use it as an adult in a child-like, playful way, similar to asking “Who can hang out?”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Skal vi snuppe en øl? Har fri om et kvarter.

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Shall we grab a beer? Will be off in fifteen minutes.”
    Use this expression if you can hang out with the poster and want to go for beer. You’re also indicating that you will be able to leave, probably for the bar, in 15 minutes’ time.

    2- Det ligner da ikke dig. Kom ned på Nyhavn!

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “That surely is not you. Come down to Nyhavn!”
    Use this expression to indicate that you find the poster’s boredom uncharacteristic, and to invite him to visit you in Nyhavn. The town’s name can be replaced with any other location.

    3- Slap af og nyd det.

    His supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Relax and enjoy it.”
    Use this expression to offer simple advice about alleviating boredom.

    4- Har konen forladt dig?

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “Has the missus left you?”
    Use this expression if you’re in a humorous, slightly sarcastic mood, and think that he’s without something to do because he’s single.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • uden: “without”
  • plan: “plan”
  • kvarter: “quarter, a quarter of an hour”
  • snuppe: “to snatch, to grab”
  • ligne: “to look like, to resemble”
  • slappe af: “to relax”
  • forlade: “to leave”
  • If a friend posted something about being bored, which phrase would you use?

    Still bored? Share another feeling and see if you can start a conversation!

    8. Exhausted? Share It on Social Media in Danish

    Sitting in public transport after work, feeling like chatting online? Well, converse in Danish about how you feel, and let your friends join in!

    Johanne feels exhausted after a long day at work, posts an image of herself looking tired, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Endelig fri! Kan høre sofaen kalde.
    “Finally off! I can hear the couch calling.”

    1- Endelig fri!

    First is an expression meaning “Finally off!”
    This phrase is used when expressing how happy you are that school or work is over. It can also be interpreted more literally to mean that you are finally free from captivity, because school and work can sometimes feel like prison.

    2- Kan høre sofaen kalde.

    Then comes the phrase – “Can hear the couch calling.”
    You can use this phrase to indicate that you’re going to spend time on your couch once you get home.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Ha ha, kan også høre min sofa råbe og skrige. Nu skal der slappes af!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Ha ha, can also hear my couch yelling and shouting. Now, let us relax!”
    Use this expression to sympathize with the poster’s plight, because you’re experiencing the same. You’re also making a suggestion that the both of you relax.

    2- Har kaffen klar til dig, min skat.

    Her boyfriend, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “Got the coffee ready for you, my darling.”
    Use this expression if you are feeling sympathetic and supportive. Calling someone “my darling” indicates a romantic connection.

    3- Skynd dig hjem til din søde mand!

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Hurry home to your sweet man!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted, and encouraging the poster to be with her boyfriend.

    4- Nyd det! Min vagt er først lige begyndt.

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Enjoy it! My shift has just begun.”
    Use this expression to indicate to the poster that she’s lucky to be off, at least – you’re just starting work.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • endelig: “finally”
  • råbe: “to yell”
  • skrige: “to cry, to scream, to shout, to shriek”
  • skat: “darling, honey, baby”
  • skynde sig: “to hurry”
  • nyde: “to enjoy”
  • vagt: “guard, watch”
  • If a friend posted something about being exhausted, which phrase would you use?

    Now you know how to say you’re exhausted in Danish! Well done.

    9. Talking about an Injury in Danish

    So life happens, and you manage to hurt yourself during a soccer game. Very Tweet-worthy! Here’s how to do it in Danish.

    Hans suffers a painful injury, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Så meget for den skiferie… Jeg giver kvajebajer!
    “So much for that skiing holiday… I’m buying a made-a-fool-of-myself beer!”

    1- Så meget for den skiferie…

    First is an expression meaning “So much for that skiing holiday…”
    Use this expression to express that you’re disappointed that something you planned is not going to happen.

    2- Jeg giver kvajebajer!

    Then comes the phrase – “I am buying made-a-fool-of-myself-beer!”
    This phrase is most commonly used by guys when referring to the beer that they’ll buy because they made a fool of themselves or messed up somehow. It’s normally used in good spirits, but some might say that you owe them this beer, even if you don’t think you’ve messed up.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Sådan går det, når man skal blære sig.

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “That’s how it goes when you (have to) show off.”
    Use this expression if you’re close to the poster and are known to joke around this way, because saying this can come off as rather unsympathetic and insulting.

    2- Av av! God bedring!

    His girlfriend’s high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Ouch, ouch! Get well soon!”
    Use this expression to be sympathetic without making too much of a fuss about it.

    3- Håber du stadig kan nyde ferien, selv om det ikke bliver på pisterne.

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Hope you’re still able to enjoy the holiday. Although it won’t be on the slopes.”
    Use this to express goodwill, and wish the poster a good, albeit limited holiday anyway.

    4- Det ben bliver aldrig det samme igen. Ha ha…!

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “That leg will never be the same again. Ha ha…!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous and want to tease the poster a bit. Again, the offline relationship with them is probably important to avoid misunderstandings.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • skiferie: “skiing holiday”
  • blære sig: “show off, boast”
  • av: “ouch”
  • god bedring: “get well soon, best wishes for a speedy recovery”
  • pist: “slope”
  • ben: “leg”
  • aldrig: “never”
  • If a friend posted something about being injured, which phrase would you use?

    We love to share our fortunes and misfortunes; somehow that makes us feel connected to others.

    10. Starting a Conversation Feeling Disappointed in Danish

    Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. Share your disappointment about this with your friends!

    Johanne feels disappointed about today’s weather, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    At skulle cykle hjem, når det står ned i stænger…
    “Having to bike home when it’s pouring down…”

    1- at skulle cykle hjem

    First is an expression meaning “having to bike home.”
    This phrase indicates the action of having to ride a bicycle home. If you aren’t used to bike lanes, watch out when crossing the streets in Denmark because bikes are almost everywhere!

    2- når stå ned i stænger

    Then comes the phrase – “when it is pouring down…”
    You can use this phrase when indicating that it’s pouring outside. This literally means that “it is raining down in poles”, which is a uniquely Danish expression that won’t make much sense in English. It could refer to torrents of water that look tubular, like poles.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- God svømmetur!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Have a nice swim!”
    Use this expression if you’re in a humorous mood and refuses to take the complaint seriously.

    2- Pas på derude.

    Her supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Be careful out there.”
    This is an old-fashioned phrase of warning, referring to the wet environment. The admonition is almost parental but is often used to show care and concern.

    3- Og DERFOR er det bedre at tage bilen!

    Her nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “And THAT’s why it’s better to take the car!”
    Use this expression to partake in the conversation by being a bit cynical and pedantic.

    4- Hvis det er for meget, kan jeg hente dig ved Forum. Bare ring.

    Her boyfriend, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “If it’s too much, I can pick you up at the Forum. Just call.”
    Use these phrases to indicate you’re willing to help the poster in some way, because you care.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • cykle: “to bicycle, to cycle”
  • svømmetur: “swim”
  • pas på: “look after, look out, be careful, take care”
  • bil: “car”
  • hente: “to fetch, to bring”
  • bare: “just, simply”
  • ringe: “to call”
  • How would you comment in Danish when a friend is disappointed?

    Not all posts need to be about a negative feeling, though!

    11. Talking about Your Relationship Status in Danish

    Don’t just change your relationship status in Settings, talk about it!

    Hans changes his status to “In a relationship”, posts an image of him and Johanne together, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Bedre sent end aldrig. Lad os tage hul på et nyt kapitel!
    “Better late than never. Let us embark on a new chapter!”

    1- Bedre sent end aldrig.

    First is an expression meaning “Better late than never.”
    Use this phrase to indicate that it’s better that something happens, or has happened, at a later time than not at all.

    2- Lad os tage hul på et nyt kapitel!

    Then comes the phrase – “Let us embark on a new chapter!”
    This other phrase can be used to show a positive attitude toward starting a new phase in life. For instance, you can use this phrase if you decide to move to Denmark.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Ægte kærlighed!

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “True love!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted and romantic.

    2- Øh, burde der ikke stå, at ingen vil have dig???

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Uhm, shouldn’t it say that nobody wants you???”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous and want to make fun of the poster.

    3- Så blev det endelig officielt!

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “Now, it finally became official!”
    Use this expression to show you are happy about the relationship and it’s new status.

    4- Måske skulle jeg gøre det samme. Ved dog ikke hvordan…

    His supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Maybe I should do the same. Don’t know how though…”
    Use this expression to indicate that you’re considering romance, but have reservations about your ability to get a partner.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • lade: “to let”
  • ægte: “genuine, real”
  • kærlighed: “love”
  • burde: “to ought to, should”
  • ingen: “nobody, no one”
  • officiel: “official”
  • dog: “yet, however”
  • What would you say in Danish when a friend changes their relationship status?

    Being in a good relationship with someone special is good news – don’t be shy to spread it!

    12. Post about Getting Married in Danish

    Wow, so things got serious, and you’re getting married. Congratulations! Or, your friend is getting married, so talk about this in Danish.

    Johanne is getting married today, so she leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Glæder mig til at sige ja til min eneste ene!
    “Looking forward to saying “yes” to my one and only!”

    1- glæder mig til at sige ja til

    First is an expression meaning “(I’m) looking forward to saying yes to.”
    You can use this phrase to indicate that you’re looking forward to agreeing to something, such as a promotion or marrying your significant other.

    2- min eneste ene

    Then comes the phrase – “my one and only.”
    This phrase is used like its English equivalent to refer to your romantic partner. Or it can even be about that one, unique person you haven’t met yet.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Tror ikke, du er helt klar over, hvad du siger ja til…

    Her nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t think you’re completely aware of what you’re saying yes to…”
    Again, the relationship with the poster is very important when using this phrase. It could come across as very cynical and critical of their choice to get married, or it could be understood that you’re just teasing them and show affection this way.

    2- Vi ses senere, søde! Glæder mig til at danse natten lang.

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “See you later, sweety! Looking forward to dancing all night long.”
    Use this expression to indicate your anticipation of the event, in a positive way.

    3- Tillykke med det!

    Her supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations on getting married!”
    This is the traditional, widely used phrase to congratulate newly-weds, or those about to get married.

    4- Tillykke tillykke! Håber I får en uforglemmelig dag.

    Her husband’s high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations, congratulations! Hope you have an unforgettable day.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic and enthusiastic about the marriage and wish them well. A variation of the traditional way of congratulating.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • glæde sig til: “to look forward to”
  • eneste: “only, single”
  • være klar over: “to be aware of, to realize”
  • danse: “to dance”
  • tillykke: “congratulations”
  • håbe: “to hope”
  • uforglemmelig: “unforgettable”
  • How would you respond in Danish to a friend’s post about getting married?

    For the next topic, fast forward about a year into the future after the marriage…

    13. Announcing Big News in Danish

    Wow, huge stuff is happening in your life! Announce it in Danish.

    Hans finds out he and his wife are going to have a baby, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Vi er i lykkelige omstændigheder! Snart ankommer der endnu et familiemedlem.
    “We are in happy circumstances! Soon another family member is going to arrive.”

    1- Vi er i lykkelige omstændigheder!

    First is an expression meaning “We are in happy circumstances!”
    You’ll most likely use this phrase when you and your partner are expecting a child and feel positive about it. Hence, the happy circumstances.

    2- Snart ankommer der endnu et familiemedlem.

    Then comes the phrase – “Soon another family member is going to arrive.”
    This phrase is used when announcing that your family will be growing by one more member. Most often, this is a baby, but some might use it to refer to a pet, as they’re perceived by many as part of the family.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Tillykke!!! Bliver det en dreng eller pige?

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations!!! Will it be a boy or a girl?”
    Use these phrases to congratulate the parents-to-be, and to indicate that you want more information.

    2- Jeg kan næsten ikke vente, til vi kan kalde os forældre.

    His wife, Johanne, uses an expression meaning – “I can hardly wait until we can call ourselves parents.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic and enthusiastic about the prospect of being a parent.

    3- Stort tillykke fra jeres naboer!

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations from your neighbors!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted towards the new parents, who are also living next to you.

    4- Sådan, mand!

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Way to go, man!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous but happy about the news. A casual congratulation.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • snart: “soon”
  • ankomme: “to arrive”
  • familiemedlem: “family member”
  • vente: “to wait”
  • forælder: “parent”
  • nabo: “neighbor”
  • sådan: “such, like that”
  • Which phrase would you choose when a friend announces their pregnancy on social media?

    So, talking about a pregnancy will get you a lot of traction on social media. But wait till you see the responses to babies!

    14. Posting Danish Comments about Your Baby

    Your bundle of joy is here, and you cannot keep quiet about it! Share your thoughts in Danish.

    Johanne plays with her baby, posts an image of the little angel, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Sjov med vores lille charmetrold!
    “Fun with our little charmer!”

    1- sjov med

    First is an expression meaning “fun with.”
    This phrase is used when indicating that you’re having fun with something or someone.

    2- vores lille charmetrold

    Then comes the phrase – “our little charmer.”
    You can use this phrase when referring to your child. Basically, you’re calling him or her a little charming troll. As unappealing as this may sound in English, it’s a very common way for Danes to describe cute kids who know how to charm everyone.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Hvor er han sød!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “He is so cute!”
    Use this expression to agree with the poster about the baby’s charm.

    2- Han ligner sin far! Ha ha!

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “He looks like his dad! Ha ha!”
    Use this expression to share an opinion about the baby’s appearance. It is also humorous.

    3- Ikke for meget baby-spam, tak!

    Her nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “Not too much baby-spam, thank you!”
    Use this expression to comment in a cynical, but also humorous way.

    4- Flere billeder tak!

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “More pictures please!”
    Use this expression to show you are interested in the poster’s new baby and would like to see more photos of them.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • sjov: “fun”
  • lille: “small, little”
  • charmetrold: “charmer”
  • sød: “sweet, cute”
  • ligne: “to look like, to resemble”
  • flere: “more, several”
  • billede: “picture, image”
  • If your friend is the mother or father, which phrase would you use on social media?

    Congratulations, you know the basics of chatting about a baby in Danish! But we’re not done with families yet…

    15. Danish Comments about a Family Reunion

    Family reunions – some you love, some you hate. Share about it on your feed.

    Hans goes to a family gathering, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Så lykkedes det endelig at samle flokken. Det er så godt, som det kan blive!
    “Finally managed to gather the flock. It’s as good as it can get!”

    1- Så lykkedes det endelig at samle flokken.

    First is an expression meaning “Finally managed to gather the flock.”
    Use this phrase to express your excitement over finally getting your whole family or group of friends together.

    2- Det er så godt, som det kan blive!

    Then comes the phrase – “It’s as good as it can get!”
    This phrase is often used to sum up how you feel about something. It can either be positive or negative. When positive, you truly mean that something is as good as it can get. But when used negatively, you might be stuck with a feeling that something could actually have been better, but you’re settling for what it is.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Jeg synes, jeg kan genkende de fleste. Hils!

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “I think I can recognize most of them. Say hello!”
    Use this expression to show your interest in the poster’s family, and wish to greet them.

    2- Hvorfor sidder du så med din telefon lige nu?

    His nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “Then why are you sitting with your phone right now?”
    This is a slightly sarcastic but also humorous comment, meaning: “If you’re so pleased with the group, why are you busy on your phone?”

    3- Sikke en skøn familie! Jeg håber, I får en god dag.

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “What a beautiful family! I hope you have a nice day.”
    Use this expression if you think the poster’s family is attractive and happy, and wish them a good gathering.

    4- Jeg anede ikke, du havde sådan en stor familie. Fantastisk!

    His supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “I didn’t have the faintest idea that you had such a big family. Fantastic!”
    Use this expression to indicate that you’re impressed with the size of the poster’s family, in a positive way.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • synes: “to think, to feel, to find”
  • genkende: “to recognize”
  • hilse: “to greet, to say hello”
  • skøn: “beautiful, gorgeous”
  • ane: “to have a feeling”
  • sådan: “such, like that”
  • fantastisk: “fantastic, fabulous”
  • Which phrase is your favorite to comment on a friend’s photo about a family reunion?

    16. Post about Your Travel Plans in Danish

    So, the family are going on holiday. Do you know how to post and leave comments in Danish about being at the airport, waiting for a flight?

    Johanne waits at the airport for her flight, posts an image of her eating a bagel, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Forsøder ventetiden med en bagel og en kaffe. Man er vel livsnyder!
    “Sweetening the wait with a bagel and a coffee. I am surely a hedonist!”

    1- Forsøder ventetiden med en bagel og en kaffe.

    First is an expression meaning “Sweetening the wait with a bagel and a coffee.”
    You can use this phrase to indicate that you’re making a wait pleasurable by enjoying a bagel and coffee. Remember, Danes love making situations a little bit better, even if they’re already pretty good.

    2- Man er vel livsnyder!

    Then comes the phrase – “I am surely a hedonist!”
    This phrase is great to describe Danes in general, as they love enjoying life and all its assets, which is quite easy to do in Denmark. Here, the pronoun “man” is equivalent to “you” or “one.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- God tur, skat! Jeg passer på vores guldklump imens.

    Her husband, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “Have a nice trip, honey! I will take care of our gold nugget in the meantime.”
    These phrases indicate that the husband is wishing his wife well on her trip, and reassures her that their precious baby will be well taken care of.

    2- Nyd turen og pausen fra forældretjansen.

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Enjoy the trip and break from the parenting job.”
    With this phrase, you show that you hope the poster enjoys the trip, as well as the break from parental duties.

    3- Pas godt på dig selv, min ven! Husk at slappe af.

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Take care of yourself, my friend! Remember to relax.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted and caring towards the poster.

    4- God rejse, Johanne. Jeg håber, der er gode film på flyet.

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Good journey, Johanne. I hope there are good movies on the plane.”
    This expression is more or less the same as the one above – you’re wishing the poster well and hope there’s good distraction on the plane.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • ventetid: “wait”
  • kaffe: “coffee”
  • passe på: “to take care of”
  • guldklump: “gold nugget”
  • forældretjans: “parenting job”
  • rejse: “journey, trip”
  • fly: “plane”
  • Choose and memorize your best airport phrase in Danish!

    Hopefully the rest of the trip is better!

    17. Posting about an Interesting Find in Danish

    So maybe you’re strolling around at a local market, and find something interesting. Here are some handy Danish phrases!

    Hans finds an unusual item at a local market, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’s post.

    Troede aldrig, jeg skulle finde SÅDAN ET på loppemarkedet! Drengedrømmen lever!!!
    “Never thought I would find SUCH A THING at the flea market! The boyhood dream lives!!!”

    1- Troede aldrig, jeg skulle finde SÅDAN ET på loppemarkedet!

    First is an expression meaning “Never thought I would find SUCH A THING at the flea market!.”
    This phrase can be used to indicate how excited you are to have found something that you thought you’d never find at a flea market. Remember to replace the indefinite article “et” with “en” if you’re referring to a common gender noun.

    2- Drengedrømmen lever!!!

    Then comes the phrase – “The boyhood dream lives!!!”
    Guys especially use this phrase to indicate that their childhood dream is still alive and might come true. In this context, it could mean that Hans’ find is something he wanted as a child.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Er det, hvad jeg tror, det er?! Så skal der kæmpes til døden!!!

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Is that what I think it is?! Now, there will be a fight to the death!!!”
    Use this expression to show you are sharing the poster’s enthusiasm for his find, and are slightly envious of it.

    2- Uh, det ser lidt farligt ud, gør det ikke?

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Oh, that looks a little dangerous, doesn’t it?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling a bit worried.

    3- Du tror da ikke på, at det er ægte, vel?

    His nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “You don’t think that’s genuine, do you?”
    Use this expression to show you are not feeling optimistic about the authenticity of the find.

    4- Jeg håber sørme ikke, at det samuraisværd skal med hjem!

    His wife, Johanne, uses an expression meaning – “I sure do not hope that that samurai sword is coming back home!”
    Use this expression to indicate your worry about the safety of the find, probably because it’s not child-friendly.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • tro: “to believe, to think”
  • loppemarked: “flea market”
  • drengedrøm: “boyhood dream”
  • leve: “to live, to exist, to be alive”
  • kæmpe: “to fight, to struggle”
  • farlig: “dangerous”
  • sørme: “jolly well”
  • Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s interesting find?

    Perhaps you will even learn the identity of your find! Or perhaps you’re on holiday, and visiting interesting places…

    18. Post about a Sightseeing Trip in Danish

    Let your friends know what you’re up to in Danish, especially when visiting a remarkable place! Don’t forget the photo.

    Johanne visits a famous landmark, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Det vækker minder at se Aarhus Domkirke igen. Detaljerne er utrolige!
    “It brings back memories to see Aarhus Cathedral again. The details are incredible!”

    1- Det vækker minder at se Aarhus Domkirke igen.

    First is an expression meaning “It brings back memories to see Aarhus Cathedral again.”
    If you’re feeling nostalgic when looking at Aarhus Cathedral, you can use this phrase to state that seeing it again brings back memories of past visits or experiences.

    2- Detaljerne er utrolige!

    Then comes the phrase – “The details are incredible!”
    You can use this phrase to express that the details of something are so incredible, astounding, or amazing that it’s hard to believe it’s real. Replace “detaljerne” if something in the plural form is incredible.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Jeg har faktisk aldrig været inde i kirken…

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “I’ve actually never been inside the church…”
    Use this expression to share a pertinent personal experience.

    2- Spiret på tårnet sætter virkelig prikken over i’et!

    Her supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “The spire on the tower really is the icing on the cake!”
    If you’ve been to the same location as the poster, in this instance the Aarhus Cathedral, which has a remarkable spire, this would be a good phrase to use.

    3- Jeg håber, du tager mange billeder!

    Her husband’s high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “I hope you’ll take a lot of pictures!”
    Use this expression to show your interest in the poster’s experience and would like to see their photos.

    4- Dejligt at se du har lidt tid til at gå på opdagelse. Vi har det godt herhjemme!

    Her husband, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “Nice to see you have a little time to go exploring. We are doing good at home!”
    Use this expression to show you are happy about the poster’s good experience, and reassure them that you are well.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • detalje: “detail”
  • kirke: “church”
  • spir: “spire”
  • tårn: “tower”
  • sætte prikken over i’et: “apply the finishing touch”
  • billede: “picture, image”
  • opdagelse: “discovery, detection”
  • Which phrase would you prefer when a friend posts about a famous landmark?

    Share your special places with the world. Or simply post about your relaxing experiences.

    19. Post about Relaxing Somewhere in Danish

    So you’re doing nothing, yet you enjoy that too? Tell your social media friends about it in Danish!

    Hans relaxes at a beautiful place, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Lad afslapningen begynde! Dette er i sandhed et paradis.
    “Let the relaxation begin! This is truly a paradise.”

    1- Lad afslapningen begynde!

    First is an expression meaning “Let the relaxation begin!.”
    This phrase is often used when announcing that you’re going to start relaxing. This can either be in relation to a holiday or simply free time.

    2- Dette er i sandhed et paradis.

    Then comes the phrase – “This is truly a paradise.”
    Use this phrase when describing a place that is not only beautiful but presents endless possibilities, like that of a paradise.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Det kalder jeg en stressfri zone! Nyd det!

    His wife’s high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “That is what I call a stress-free zone! Enjoy it!”
    Use this expression to show you’re feeling positive about the poster’s location, and wish them enjoyment.

    2- Hvor er du henne? Og hvor længe er du væk?

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “Where are you? And how long will you be away?”
    Use these questions to gather more information about the poster’s location, and the length of their stay away from home.

    3- Det er velfortjent, Hans. Vi ses om en uge.

    His supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “It is well-deserved, Hans. See you in a week.”
    Use this expression if you feel positive about the poster’s break.

    4- Nu har du vel husket at købe en returbillet, ikke?

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Now, surely you remembered to buy a return ticket, right?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous and are in a humorous mood.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • lade: “to let, to allow to”
  • afslapning: “relaxation”
  • kalde: “to call”
  • stressfri: “stress-free”
  • nyde: “to enjoy”
  • velfortjent: “well-deserved, well-earned”
  • returbillet: “return ticket”
  • Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s feed?

    The break was great, but now it’s time to return home.

    20. What to Say in Danish When You’re Home Again

    And you’re back! What will you share with friends and followers?

    Johanne returns home after her vacation, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Dejligt at være hjemme igen. Huset står her heldigvis endnu!
    “Nice to be home again. Thankfully, the house is still standing!”

    1- Dejligt at være hjemme igen.

    First is an expression meaning “Nice to be home again”.
    This phrase is used to express how happy you are to be home again after being away for a short or long time. If you aren’t happy to be home again, simply use a different, appropriate adjective at the beginning of the sentence.

    2- Huset står her heldigvis endnu!

    Then comes the phrase – “Luckily, the house is still standing!”
    You can use this phrase to indicate that you’re relieved to see that your house is not completely destroyed after an event such as a party or a period of time that you were unable to keep an eye on things.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Velkommen tilbage! Jeg håber, du har haft en god ferie.

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Welcome back! I hope you had a good vacation.”
    This is a traditional, warm welcoming greeting after a person has been away on holiday.

    2- Har du været bekymret for huset, mens du var væk? Ha ha…

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Were you worried about the house while you were away? Ha ha…”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous and in a humorous mood.

    3- Jeg glæder mig til at høre alt om din tur! Godt, du ikke blev kidnappet!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “I am looking forward to hearing all about your trip! Glad you weren’t kidnapped!”
    Use this expression to be funny, but also to indicate interest in the details of the poster’s trip.

    4- Velkommen hjem, skat! Vi har savnet dig og passet godt på huset.

    Her husband, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “Welcome home, honey! We have missed you and taken good care of the house.”
    A warm welcome from a husband to his wife.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • dejlig: “lovely, delightful, fine, nice”
  • heldigvis: “luckily, fortunately”
  • velkommen: “welcome”
  • ferie: “holiday, vacation”
  • bekymre: “to worry”
  • tur: “trip”
  • savne: “to miss”
  • How would you welcome a friend back from a trip?

    And what do you post on social media when you celebrate something in Danish, such as Easter Day?

    21. It’s Time to Celebrate in Danish

    It’s Easter and you wish to post something about it on social media. What would you say?

    Hans is enjoying an Easter egg, shares a photo of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Jeg kunne ikke dy mig… Der er vist liiige nok til hele familien!
    “I couldn’t resist… There is juuust enough for the whole family!”

    1- Jeg kunne ikke dy mig…

    First is an expression meaning “I could not resist…”
    This phrase is most often used to indicate that you couldn’t resist the temptation to do something. You just had to give in to it.

    2- Der er vist liiige nok til hele familien!

    Then comes the phrase – “There is juuust enough for the whole family!”
    This phrase is used to express that you think there’s just enough of something for the whole family, such as food or something else that can be shared. Because of the formal subject “der” at the beginning of the sentence, you don’t actually say “I think.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Sikke et gigantisk påskeæg! Gem noget til mig!

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “What a gigantic Easter egg! Save some for me!”
    Use this expression to share the poster’s enthusiasm for the chocolate Easter egg.

    2- Du bliver dagens helt med det påskeæg! God påske!

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “You’ll be the hero of the day with that Easter egg! Happy Easter!”
    Use this expression to agree with the poster that the egg is amazing, and also extend the traditional Easter greetings.

    3- Hvor meget kostede dét æg?!

    His wife, Johanne, uses an expression meaning – “How much did that egg cost?!”
    Use this expression if you’re in a funny mood and pretend to be worried about the egg’s cost. (Replace “egg” with anything appropriate..) Unless you really are worried about the price of the egg!, but then it’s not a good idea to start a conversation about it on social media.

    4- Du har ikke godt af mere chokolade, Hans…

    His nephew, Noah, uses an expression meaning – “More chocolate is not good for you, Hans…”
    Use this expression if you are worried about the poster’s health.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • vist: “certainly”
  • nok: “enough”
  • gigantisk: “gigantic”
  • påskeæg: “Easter egg”
  • gemme: “to hide, to save”
  • dagens helt: “hero of the day”
  • have godt af: “to be good for, will do good”
  • If a friend posted something about a holiday, which phrase would you use?

    Easter Day and other public commemoration days are not the only special ones to remember!

    22. Posting about a Birthday on Social Media in Danish

    Your friend or you are celebrating your birthday in an unexpected way. Be sure to share this on social media!

    Johanne goes to her birthday party, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Det er ingen sag at blive ældre, når man har en dejlig familie og fantastiske venner!
    “It is no big deal becoming older when you have a lovely family and amazing friends!”

    1- det er ingen sag at blive ældre

    First is an expression meaning “it is no big deal becoming older.”
    This is a convenient phrase you can use to indicate that you don’t think becoming older is a big deal. In fact, you find it very easy.

    2- når man har en dejlig familie og fantastiske venner

    Then comes the phrase – “when you have a lovely family and amazing friends!”
    You can use this phrase when talking about how nice and great your family and friends are. Contrast this with something negative to indicate that difficulties become easier to handle because of the people in your life.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Tillykke med fødselsdagen, søde! 30 er det nye 20!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Happy birthday, sweety! 30 is the new 20!”
    With these phrases, you are wishing the poster a good birthday in a traditional way. You also indicate that you are essentially agreeing with the notion that age doesn’t matter much.

    2- Tillykke, min skat. Du ser lige så ung og smuk ud, som første gang jeg så dig.

    Her husband, Hans, uses an expression meaning – “Happy birthday, my darling. You look just as young and beautiful as the first time I saw you.”
    Use this expression when you mean to compliment the poster beautifully on looking young despite their age.

    3- Endnu en gang stort tillykke med dagen, kære nabo!

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Once again, happy birthday, dear neighbor!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted, using a variation of the traditional birthday wish.

    4- Tillykke og hip hip hurra! Du ældes med ynde!

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Happy birthday and hip hip hooray! You age gracefully!”
    Use this expression when you are feeling frivolous, and also compliments the poster on her youthful appearance, despite her age.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • familie: “family”
  • ven: “friend”
  • tillykke: “congratulations”
  • ung: “young”
  • første gang: “first time”
  • ældes: “to age”
  • ynde: “grace”
  • If a friend posted something about birthday greetings, which phrase would you use?

    23. Talking about New Year on Social Media in Danish

    Impress your friends with your Danish New Year’s wishes this year. Learn the phrases easily!

    Hans celebrates the New Year, posts an image of the festivities, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Godt nytår til alle!!! Pas godt på hinanden!
    “Happy New Year to all!!! Take good care of each other!”

    1- Godt nytår til alle!!!

    First is an expression meaning “Happy New Year to all!!!”
    This greeting is used when wishing a Happy New Year to everyone. This is very convenient if you don’t feel like writing personal greetings to everyone you’re friends with online.

    2- Pas godt på hinanden!

    Then comes the phrase – “Take good care of each other!”
    This phrase reminds your friends and family to show care and consideration toward everyone over the New Year. It’s a very common phrase around New Year’s Eve as there can be accidents due to a combination of fireworks, heavy drinking, frosty weather, and poor judgement.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Mange tak for i år, Hans! Hav en god fest!

    His supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “Thank you very much for this year, Hans! Have a nice party!”
    This is a pleasant way to thank someone on social media for something, and wish them a nice party.

    2- Kom godt ind i det nye år. Vi ses på den anden side!

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Be well into the new year. See you on the other side!”
    This is a non-traditional New Year’s wish for good health and wellbeing, also saying that you will see the poster after the New Year festivities.

    3- Tak for et godt år!

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “Thank you for a great year!”
    Use this to express your gratitude for a good friendship.

    4- Godt nytår til dig og din familie. Må næste år blive lige så berigende!

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Happy New Year to you and your family. May next year be just as rewarding!”
    This is a more traditional, warmhearted wish for the New Year, extended to the whole family of the poster.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • hinanden: “each other, one another”
  • år: “year”
  • fest: “party”
  • ny: “new”
  • den anden side: “the other side”
  • næste: “next”
  • berige: “to enrich”
  • Which is your favorite phrase to post on social media during New Year?

    But before New Year’s Day comes another important day…

    24. What to Post on Christmas Day in Danish

    What will you say in Danish about Christmas?

    Johanne celebrates Christmas with her family, posts an image of the group, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Johanne’s post.

    Glædelig jul fra Familien Vestergaard! Ho ho ho!
    “Merry Christmas from the Vestergaard Family! Ho ho ho!”

    1- Glædelig jul fra Familien Vestergaard!

    First is an expression meaning “Merry Christmas from the Vestergaard Family!”
    This is a very common holiday greeting during Christmas time. Replace the Danish last name with your own if you and your family want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in Danish. If it’s just you, remove “Familien Vestergaard” and replace it with “mig,” which means “me,” or simply your first name.

    2- Ho ho ho!

    Then comes the phrase – “Ho ho ho!”
    This is used exactly like it is in English when imitating Santa Claus’s jolly laugh. The third ‘ho’ is often longer than the first two. Make sure to get in character!

    COMMENTS

    In response, Johanne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Glædelig jul! Hav en dejlig aften i familiens skød.

    Her neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Merry Christmas! Have a lovely evening with the family.”
    Use this expression as a traditional, benevolent Christmas wish for the poster and their family.

    2- God jul, Johanne! Skræmte Hans’ julemandskostume ikke alle i din familien?!

    Her high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Merry Christmas, Johanne! Didn’t Hans’ Santa costume scare everyone in your family?!”
    This is a traditional Christmas wish, as well as a funny comment.

    3- Rigtig glædelig jul til dig og din familie.

    Her supervisor, Bent, uses an expression meaning – “A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.”
    This is also a traditional Christmas wish.

    4- God jul! Lad nu være med at overspise, hi hi…

    Her college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Merry Christmas! Now don’t overeat, hee hee…”
    Another traditional Christmas wish plus an admonition to not eat too much.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • aften: “evening”
  • familie: “family”
  • dejlig: “lovely”
  • julemandskostume: “Santa costume”
  • rigtig: “really”
  • lade være med: “to not do”
  • overspise: “to overeat”
  • If a friend posted something about Christmas greetings, which phrase would you use?

    So, the festive season is over! Yet, there will always be other days, besides a birthday, to wish someone well.

    25. Post about Your Anniversary in Danish

    Some things deserve to be celebrated, like wedding anniversaries. Learn which Danish phrases are meaningful and best suited for this purpose!

    Hans celebrates his wedding anniversary with his wife, posts an image of them together, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Hans’ post.

    Glæder mig til mange flere år sammen med denne skønne kvinde. Tillykke med bryllupsdagen, min elskede!
    “Looking forward to many more years with this wonderful woman. Happy anniversary, my love!”

    1- Glæder mig til mange flere år sammen med denne skønne kvinde.

    First is an expression meaning “Looking forward to many more years with this wonderful woman.”
    This phrase is convenient if you want to express your love for your girlfriend or wife, as it indicates how much you look forward to spending many more years with her.

    2- Tillykke med bryllupsdagen, min elskede!

    Then comes the phrase – “Happy anniversary, my love!”
    You can use this simple phrase to wish your spouse a happy anniversary while also expressing great affection toward them by calling them “my love.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Hans’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Jeg bliver helt rørt på jeres vegne! Tillykke med bryllupsdagen!

    His high school friend, Frederikke, uses an expression meaning – “I get all touched on your behalf! Happy anniversary!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic.

    2- Tillykke tillykke! Jeg har også brug for en mand med det samme!

    His wife’s high school friend, Susanne, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations, congratulations! I also need a husband straight away!”
    This is an enthusiastic, positive congratulation, as well as the wish to be married yourself.

    3- I ønskes begge en rigtig glædelig bryllupsdag!

    His neighbor, Gitte, uses an expression meaning – “Wishing you both a very happy anniversary!”
    This is a traditional wish for the occasion.

    4- Tillykke! Hvornår finder du en kone til mig?!

    His college friend, Isak, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations! When will you find a wife for me?!”
    Use this expression when you are feeling frivolous and humorous, also wishing to be married.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • glæde sig: “to look forward to”
  • år: “year”
  • kvinde: “woman”
  • bryllupsdag: “wedding day, wedding anniversary”
  • mand: “man, husband”
  • med det samme: “straight away”
  • kone: “wife”
  • If a friend posted something about Anniversary greetings, which phrase would you use?

    Conclusion

    Learning to speak a new language will always be easier once you know key phrases that everybody uses. These would include commonly used expressions for congratulations and best wishes, etc.

    Master these in fun ways with Learn Danish! We offer a variety of tools to individualize your learning experience, including using cell phone apps, audiobooks, iBooks and many more. Never wonder again what to say on social media!

    Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Danish

    How to Learn Danish Holistically

    How to learn Danish holistically

    Putting in the study hours day after day and even week after is great. Above all other things I think consistency may be the most important factor in learning a foreign language. But if you’ve been learning a language long enough you may have had an experience where, after learning vocabulary and grammar, you struggle to understand a basic conversation with a native speaker.

    Sometimes it can feel like all those hours spent grinding it out in your textbook or listening to podcasts were worthless. Time invested in learning a language is never in vain; but the aspects of the language you practice, and the method you use to do so, can greatly impact the speed and efficiency of your progress.

    In this post we’ll take a look how to learn the different parts of the language so that over time they coalesce into a complete working knowledge base that helps you whether you’re speaking, writing, listening, or reading.

    This approach will be beneficial to you whether you’re learning Danish or another foreign language altogether.

    schedule

    Look at the Danish language as whole not just its different parts

    There’s a tendency in language learning to get so focus on one aspect of a language that you tend to lose sight of others. If you’re learning grammar you may slack on your vocabulary. If you’re dead set on developing your Danish accent your reading skills might fall on the back burner.

    While it’s not always possible to practice all aspects of a language all the time, you want to guard yourself against learning one part in isolation of the others. A lot of times the typical study schedule for someone learning Danish might look like this:

    • Work through a Danish textbook lesson
    • Learn the list of vocabulary words from the lesson
    • Practice grammar through written exercises
    • Maybe try to memorize the new vocabulary

    Other than trying to learn vocabulary through rote memorization there probably isn’t anything wrong with any of these activities. But if all you do to learn Danish is work through textbooks and do written exercises your speaking and listening abilities are going to suffer. This is an imbalanced approach to learning Danish.

    A more balanced approach would be to take the same lesson from the textbook and complete the lesson, then use the language you learned from it in a variety of ways. You could find a native Danish speaker, either locally or online through language exchanges, and practice using the vocabulary words you learned from the lesson. You could also write a post and publish it online in a language learning community to be proofread by native speakers. It would be great if you could try to incorporate some of the grammar constructs you learned in the lesson and use them in your written post.

    If you were to switch from a text based lesson to an audio based one (like DanishClass101), the opportunities to incorporate other parts of the language increases even more. If you’re using DanishClass101 you can listen back to the vocabulary words with their slow playback feature and try to mimic the pronunciation. This would be a great warm up to do before you practice with a native speaker. You can also use the site’s flashcard system to reinforce the words from the lesson.

    Using the material you learn in a variety of ways will not only help you remember the works and concepts you learn, it will also help you develop a big picture view of the Danish language. No longer will you study grammar and wonder about pronunciation, or become skilled at speaking only to struggle when reading. Using this approach, your skills in all aspects of the language grow together in unison. Your vocabulary helps your reading which it turn helps you remember words when speaking; which will also help you be more creative when you write, and so on.

    Tools to use for a more holistic approach

    There are myriad of language learning tools you could use to learning Danish holistically, but some are better than others. We’ll cover a of the most essential to get you started.

    audio

    DanishClass101

    I’m not just including DanishClass101 because this post in on their site. Their Danish podcast is one of the best tools for those trying learning all aspects of the Danish language. Their lessons are audio based, you can read along to the lesson transcripts, they teach you about grammar and cultural insights, and they help you practice pronunciation. This doesn’t even include their dictionary and flashcard system. Really the only language skill you’ll need to fill if you use DanishClass101 will be practicing with a native Danish speaker.

    Lang-8

    Lang-8 is a free site allows you to write posts and publish them online to be corrected by native speakers. The only expectation is that in turn you spend a little time correcting the entries of other learners who are writing in your native language.

    Wespeke

    Wespeke is a free to use language exchange where you can search native speakers by their native language and which language they are learning. The site allows you to practice with them via text or video chat and it’s great way to get in some solid speaking practice.

    Final thoughts

    Learning a language is never easy, whether you’re learning Danish or another language. It takes consistent time and effort before you see significant results. While being a faithful learner is vitally important, in and of it itself it might not be enough to see efficient gains in your language abilities.

    The difference is made in your overall approach and strategy for learning the language. Some methods for learning Danish are better than others. Does the way you learn Danish splice up the language into separate and seemly unrelated parts? Or does it spread your efforts across the gamut of language skills?

    The answer will determine your progress in the language. It could be the difference between whether you grow discouraged and give up, or whether your hunker down and push through.

    How to Start Thinking in Danish

    Learn 4 tools and techniques to stop translating in your head and start thinking in Danish

    Going through Danish lessons is enough to get by and learn the basics of Danish, but to truly become fluent you need to be able to think in Danish. This will allow you to have conversations with ease, read smoothly, and comprehensively understand natives. To do this, you need to go beyond just completing daily or weekly lessons.

    We naturally translate in our heads because it’s viewed as the easiest way to learn the definitions needed when learning a language. This way of learning can actually hinder your skills and fluency later on. If your brain has to make neural connections between the word you’re learning, what it means in your native tongue, and the physical object the connection will not be nearly as strong. When you bypass the original translation between Danish and your native language then there is a more basic and strong connection between just the Danish vocabulary word and the tangible object.

    start thinking in Danish

    In this blog post, you will learn the 4 important techniques to easily and naturally begin to speculate about the daily occurrences in your life. The best part is all of these techniques are supported and can be achieved through DanishClass101.com.

    Create Your Free Lifetime Account and Start Learning the whole Danish Language from the Beginning!

    1. Surround yourself with Danish

    Surround Yourself

    By surrounding yourself with Danish constantly you will completely immerse yourself in the language. Without realizing it you’ll be learning pronunciation, sentence structures, grammar, and new vocabulary. You can play music in the background while you’re cooking or have a Danish radio station on while you study. Immersion is a key factor with this learning process because it is one of the easiest things to do, but very effective. Even if you are not giving the program your full attention you will be learning.

    One great feature of DanishClass101.com is the endless podcasts that are available to you. You can even download and listen to them on the go. These podcasts are interesting and are perfect for the intention of immersion, they are easy to listen to as background noise and are interesting enough to give your full attention. Many of them contain stories that you follow as you go through the lessons which push you to keep going.

    2. Learn through observation
    learn through observation

    Learning through observation is the most natural way to learn. Observation is how we all learned our native languages as infants and it’s a wonder why we stop learning this way. If you have patience and learn through observation then Danish words will have their own meanings rather than meanings in reference to your native language. Ideally, you should skip the bilingual dictionary and just buy a dictionary in Danish.

    DanishClass101.com also offers the materials to learn this way. We have numerous video lessons which present situational usage of each word or phrase instead of just a direct translation. This holds true for many of our videos and how we teach Danish.

    3. Speak out loud to yourself
    talk to yourself

    Speaking to yourself in Danish not only gets you in the mindset of Danish, but also makes you listen to how you speak. It forces you to correct any errors with pronunciation and makes it easy to spot grammar mistakes. When you speak out loud talk about what you did that day and what you plan to do the next day. Your goal is to be the most comfortable speaking out loud and to easily create sentences. Once you feel comfortable talking to yourself start consciously thinking in your head about your daily activities and what is going on around you throughout the day.

    With DanishClass101.com you start speaking right away, not only this, but they have you repeat words and conversations after a native Danish speaker. This makes your pronunciation very accurate! With this help, you are on the fast path to making clear and complex sentences and then actively thinking about your day.

    4. Practice daily

    If you don’t practice daily then your progress will be greatly slowed. Many people are tempted to take the 20-30 minutes they should be practicing a day and practice 120 in one day and skip the other days. This isn’t nearly as effective because everyday you practice you are reinforcing the skills and knowledge you have learned. If you practice all in one day you don’t retain the information because the brain can realistically only focus for 30 minutes at most. If you’re studying for 120 minutes on the same subject little of the information will be absorbed. Studying everyday allows you to review material that you went over previous days and absorb a small amount of information at a time.

    It’s tough to find motivation to study everyday, but DanishClass101.com can help. It’s easy to stay motivated with DanishClass101.com because we give you a set learning path, with this path we show how much progress you’ve made. This makes you stick to your goals and keep going!

    Conclusion

    Following the steps and having patience is the hardest part to achieving your goals, it’s not easy learning a new language. You are essentially teaching your brain to categorize the world in a completely new way. Stick with it and you can do it just remember the 4 tools I taught you today! With them, conversations, reading, and understanding will become much easier. The most important thing to remember is to use the tools that DanishClass101.com provides and you will be on your way to being fluent!

    Learn Danish With DanishClass101 Today!

    How to Learn Danish in Your Car?

    How to Learn Danish in Your Car? Learn language in car

    Stuck in traffic? Losing time in your car? Have you ever felt that in all this wasted time, you could have watched the 750 episodes of One Piece, finished the last Super Mario ten times, or even better…you could have learned Danish? Between family, friends and work, in addition to this time-consuming commute, it can become difficult to find time to properly learn Danish.

    Fortunately, every problem has a solution, and what could be a better solution than turning that commute time into learning time? Stop passing the time mindlessly listening to the radio and try some of our best tips for mastering Danish in your car!

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    Click Here To Start Learning Danish Right Now!

    You can learn Danish in your car, hands free
    While driving, it’s important that you keep your focus on the road, so this is why our top tips won’t require you to use your hands!

    Listening to Danish audio content in the car is a good way to learn
    This is because it is a fun and efficient way to learn. With DanishClass101.com podcasts, you will be able to discover Danish culture through topics about everyday life. Instead of the radio, listen to a Danish podcast adapted to your level, from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, and you will make progress sooner that you would expect!

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    You can listen to Danish music in the car
    Did you know that you can learn Danish by singing while driving? Listen to songs from cartoon or drama and try to identify some words you learned.

    Challenge yourself! Use the Danish you’ve studied up to this point and see how much you understand! Making the jump to real-life Danish is a scary one, but friendly children’s songs are a great place to start!

    https://media.giphy.com/media/gPPA7RUH34HSg/giphy.gif

    Click Here To Sign Up For A FREE Lifetime Account!

    You can learn alone in your car
    When you’re driving alone, you can be as loud as you want – there is nothing better for remembering your Danish lessons than repeating loudly, again and again. Next time you see a driver who seems to be talking alone, you will know he or she is just learning Danish!

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    You can learn through repetition with your passengers
    If there are passengers in the car, it can be more stimulating to learn together. You can set a role play with Danish dialogues. With DanishClass101.com, you can download all the lessons transcript including the dialogues, as a PDF. Print it out and have some fun speaking in Danish!

    One of the passengers can answer the quiz available on each of our lessons, while another can correct that person. Listening to someone at a more advanced level of Danish or a better accent is positive and helps you improve.

    You can learn Danish offline
    Do you have a poor connection or are unable to use the Internet? It’s not a problem for learning Danish! Before you start your commute, use our App to download the lessons you want to study and the podcast you want to listen to in your car, and you will be able to enjoy your lessons offline. Entering a tunnel won’t be a problem anymore. What a pleasure to listen to audio content without having the host freezing every 5 seconds!

    https://media.giphy.com/media/yjos61Qgsy17q/giphy.gif

    Click here to download the App and learn offline!

    You can learn every day at your own pace
    One of the best approaches for learning a language is little by little and often. It’s not efficient to take in a huge amount of information at one time. What you need is to study on a regular basis – a little bit of Danish every day. You commute several days a week, and that is all time you can take advantage of!

    You have the freedom to choose the lessons and podcasts you want to focus on, at your own rhythm. You may want to do a little revision or discover how to talk about a new topic. And if you’re wondering what to learn next, you can use the new Learning Paths, which is our customized pathway feature that gives you a step-by-step way to learn Danish without getting lost!

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    Click here to access Learning Paths at DanishClass101!

    If you don’t have a car and commute by another method, these tips are still valid! Learning Danish is no longer limited to the classroom or your house; there are so many benefits to learning in your car or elsewhere. Reaching a conversational level will take you less time than you could ever have imagined! Don’t forget to sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and enjoy our content!

    10 Monthly Goals to become fluent in Danish

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    Hey Danish Learner!

    Shortcuts for learning and tips to remember Danish words are useful but it’s even also important to fix objectives to reach every month! What Is Your Language Learning Goal for the Month?
    In your journey to become fluent and conversational here are 10 monthly goals you can go after!

    Click Here To Start Learning Danish Right Now!

    1) I’ll finish Survival Phrases series on DanishClass101.com by listening to two lesson a day.

    2) I’ll give a 3 minute introductory speech in Danish to my Danish friends.

    3) I’ll finish reading one Danish book by reading 10 pages a day.

    4) I’ll pass my Danish test.

    5) I’ll write 10 postcards in Danish to my Danish friends.

    6) I’ll memorize 5 Danish songs.

    7) I’ll finish memorizing 350 words with Flashcards on DanishClass101.com.

    8 ) I’ll fully understand one Danish movie by watching it every day.

    9) I’ll learn how to talk about past, present and future events.

    10) I’ll master 150 words by memorizing 5 words a day.

    No money, no credit card required, just you and the ton of lessons!

    If you follow those monthly goals, you will be sure to make some amazing progress. And remember, if you’re really interested in getting on the fast-track to fluency, sign up for a FREE lifetime account at DanishClass101.com!