Meeting people in Danish
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. Play the ten Danish words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Danish phrases in this lesson
- Hvordan går det?vor-DAN gawr DAY
- How are you?
- Det går godtday gawr GOT
- I'm fine, thanks
- Og dig?oh DYE
- And you?
- Hvad hedder du?va HETH-ah doo
- What's your name?
- Jeg hedder...yai HETH-ah
- My name is...
- Hvor kommer du fra?vor KOM-ah doo FRAH
- Where are you from?
- Jeg kommer fra...yai KOM-ah frah
- I'm from...
- Jeg kan godt lide detyai kan got LEE day
- I like it
- Det er smuktday air SMOKT
- It's beautiful
- Velkommenvel-KOM-en
- Welcome
Literally "how goes it", the standard opener for everyone. Unlike the American version, Danes may answer honestly, so budget a moment for the reply.
The standard answer. "Fint" (feent) is shorter, and "det kører" (day KUR-ah), it is rolling, is the casual version among younger Danes.
Always volley it back. "Og selv?" (and yourself?) does the same job.
Literally "what are you called?". Danes rarely give surnames in casual settings.
"Jeg hedder Anna". The same verb as the question, so one word covers both.
A friendly opener that Danes ask early, usually already in English.
"Jeg kommer fra Canada". Country names are mostly close to English.
The everyday way to say you like something. "Det er dejligt" (day air DYE-leet), it's lovely, is warmer.
For views, harbors and old towns. Danes are more likely to say "hvor er det flot" (vor air day FLOT), how fine it is.
On every shop door and from every host. "Velkommen til Danmark" is what the airport says. Reply with tak.