Outside In: Exploring What it’s Like to Speak Danish

For those who move for reasons such as seeking asylum, attending school, or starting a family, there’s a sense of urgency to learn a country’s official language.

Immigrants and descendants of immigrants living in Denmark make up roughly 13% of its population. According to Statistics Denmark, as of 2021, there are 617,770 immigrants living in Denmark.

Nearly six million people worldwide speak Danish. Just over half of Danes speak some functional level of English. This is, of course, useful for English-speakers travelling to the country. It can, however, present a challenge for English-speaking foreigners learning Danish, as Danes will often simply switch to English rather than try to engage with a non-native speaker learning Danish.

While Danish can be a hard language to learn, the government provides free Danish lessons (with a 2,000 kroner deposit) to people living in Denmark over the age of 18. In addition to the social elements of learning to speak Danish, there is the difficulty in learning to pronounce Danish correctly.

There are nine vowels in the Danish language, and about20 vowel sounds that can be produced fro m those vowels. For comparison,there are 12 vowel sounds in English. Some say that to learn to speak Danish, pretend you have a potato in your throat while pronouncing its words.

For this edition of Outside In, we’ve spoken with two people living in Denmark about their experiences with speaking the Danish language. The first interviewee, Huogang Fu, or Fu, is a dual citizen of Denmark and China, and is a native Danish speaker. Our second interviewee, Joe Benjamin, is a permanent resident of Denmark and is originally from West Virginia, USA.

For those who move for reasons such as seeking asylum, attending school, or starting a family, there’s a sense of urgency to learn a country’s official language.

Immigrants and descendants of immigrants living in Denmark make up roughly 13% of its population. According to Statistics Denmark, as of 2021, there are 617,770 immigrants living in Denmark.

Nearly six million people worldwide speak Danish. Just over half of Danes speak some functional level of English. This is, of course, useful for English-speakers travelling to the country. It can, however, present a challenge for English-speaking foreigners learning Danish, as Danes will often simply switch to English rather than try to engage with a non-native speaker learning Danish.

While Danish can be a hard language to learn, the government provides free Danish lessons (with a 2,000 kroner deposit) to people living in Denmark over the age of 18. In addition to the social elements of learning to speak Danish, there is the difficulty in learning to pronounce Danish correctly.

There are nine vowels in the Danish language, and about20 vowel sounds that can be produced fro m those vowels. For comparison,there are 12 vowel sounds in English. Some say that to learn to speak Danish, pretend you have a potato in your throat while pronouncing its words.

For this edition of Outside In, we’ve spoken with two people living in Denmark about their experiences with speaking the Danish language. The first interviewee, Huogang Fu, or Fu, is a dual citizen of Denmark and China, and is a native Danish speaker. Our second interviewee, Joe Benjamin, is a permanent resident of Denmark and is originally from West Virginia, USA.

I had a lot of free time because I was playing professional basketball. Going to language school was a personal choice, because I had to negotiate with club teams and talk to my teammates.

The Danish language has its difficulties some days. On other days, speaking it feels like a super-power!

It took me around two years [to speak fluently], because I found it difficult with everyone being willing to speak English with me.

I’ve always felt comfortable always speaking Danish! The main problem was that my pronunciation was way off. I used to sound like a young child speaking the language, and as a result, adults would get confused and tell me to speak English with them instead.

If I did not know the Danish language, I would probably think it was nonsense. If you look at the letters Å, Ø & Æ, no outsider would know how to pronounce them!

I had a lot of free time because I was playing professional basketball. Going to language school was a personal choice, because I had to negotiate with club teams and talk to my teammates.

The Danish language has its difficulties some days. On other days, speaking it feels like a super-power!

It took me around two years [to speak fluently], because I found it difficult with everyone being willing to speak English with me.

I’ve always felt comfortable always speaking Danish! The main problem was that my pronunciation was way off. I used to sound like a young child speaking the language, and as a result, adults would get confused and tell me to speak English with them instead.

If I did not know the Danish language, I would probably think it was nonsense. If you look at the letters Å, Ø & Æ, no outsider would know how to pronounce them!

So that was my first experience with the Danish language. I honestly thought it was German.

I would say that the first contact with the language was in nursery school.

So that was my first experience with the Danish language. I honestly thought it was German.

I would say that the first contact with the language was in nursery school.

The best way for me to learn Danish was to have some formal schooling and then find a job speaking with children every day.

The reason behind that is they are learning the language too and are willing to overlook your mistakes!

For me, when I use something in daily life, I remember it much better. An example would be hearing Danish music, reading the text, and then singing along.

The best way for me to learn Danish was to have some formal schooling and then find a job speaking with children every day.

The reason behind that is they are learning the language too and are willing to overlook your mistakes!

For me, when I use something in daily life, I remember it much better. An example would be hearing Danish music, reading the text, and then singing along.

The most difficult part of learning to speak Danish is when learning to put sentences together.

This is something I still struggle with. You have to remember each vowel by heart.

An example would be: “the child” (barnet) becomes a totally different word when you switch over to “the children” (børnene). This has always confused me!

From an outside perspective, I can imagine that Danish is a really hard language to learn and speak!

I think the hardest part of speaking Danish is to pronounce some of the Danish words with, æ, ø and å. These letters are only common for Scandinavians, so “outsiders” have a hard time pronouncing them.

Danish is not an easy language to learn; I read once that it is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world, primarily because of those unknown letters.

Also, some words can be difficult to hear the difference between, like: “mor” and “mord” where the “d” is silent.

The Danish language has a lot of words that have multiple meanings, such as “dør.” You can use it to mean “door” or “dies: “Den dør vil ikke åbne” (that door won’t open) versus “personen i filmen dør” (the person in the movie dies).

The most difficult part of learning to speak Danish is when learning to put sentences together.

This is something I still struggle with. You have to remember each vowel by heart.

An example would be: “the child” (barnet) becomes a totally different word when you switch over to “the children” (børnene). This has always confused me!

From an outside perspective, I can imagine that Danish is a really hard language to learn and speak!

I think the hardest part of speaking Danish is to pronounce some of the Danish words with, æ, ø and å. These letters are only common for Scandinavians, so “outsiders” have a hard time pronouncing them.

Danish is not an easy language to learn; I read once that it is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world, primarily because of those unknown letters.

Also, some words can be difficult to hear the difference between, like: “mor” and “mord” where the “d” is silent.

The Danish language has a lot of words that have multiple meanings, such as “dør.” You can use it to mean “door” or “dies: “Den dør vil ikke åbne” (that door won’t open) versus “personen i filmen dør” (the person in the movie dies).

There are no rules, however, for et or en! When I first was learning the differences, I thought the words were masculine or feminine, like with Spanish and French. But I quickly found out that I was wrong. Instead, you just have to remember each one.

The first thing that popped up in my head was: Swedish and Norwegian people think that when Danish people are speaking, it sounds like they have potatoes in their mouths.

There are no rules, however, for et or en! When I first was learning the differences, I thought the words were masculine or feminine, like with Spanish and French. But I quickly found out that I was wrong. Instead, you just have to remember each one.

The first thing that popped up in my head was: Swedish and Norwegian people think that when Danish people are speaking, it sounds like they have potatoes in their mouths.

This makes it easier for me to show my level of fluency with others, and of course with Danes.

When I communicate with my parents, I speak in Danish, and they answer in Chinese.

Sometimes my mother speaks Danish with me, but my father will always respond to me in Chinese.

This makes it easier for me to show my level of fluency with others, and of course with Danes.

When I communicate with my parents, I speak in Danish, and they answer in Chinese.

Sometimes my mother speaks Danish with me, but my father will always respond to me in Chinese.

When I was professional basketball player and I didn’t like the referee’s call, I would say “Er du makke i hovedet?” which is Jysk Dansk for, essentially, “are you stupid, or what?”

[Editor’s note: this is considered a rude statement and we do not recommend using it!]

I work in customer service, so I talk to a lot of different people. A slang phrase that has grown on me is: “Der er ingen ko på isen” (“there’s no cow on the ice”), meaning that there aren’t any problems. The phrase usually calms the customer and makes them laugh.

When I was professional basketball player and I didn’t like the referee’s call, I would say “Er du makke i hovedet?” which is Jysk Dansk for, essentially, “are you stupid, or what?”

[Editor’s note: this is considered a rude statement and we do not recommend using it!]

I work in customer service, so I talk to a lot of different people. A slang phrase that has grown on me is: “Der er ingen ko på isen” (“there’s no cow on the ice”), meaning that there aren’t any problems. The phrase usually calms the customer and makes them laugh.

In particular, I have seen my evolving understanding of the Nordic languages such as Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and even a little German. I can have a full conversation with an Norwegian in Danish and vice-versa, but I can’t read Norwegian.

Furthermore, I can read Swedish, but not necessarily understand a Swede when they are speaking to me.

Yes, I would say that language is evolving. If we look at the Danish language, we get new words within a year! This year we got smittekæde (translated as “chain of infection,” in reference to COVID-19).

In general, I would say languages are always evolving, growing, and adapting. Language evolves with technology, for example, which brought us the word “emoji.”

In particular, I have seen my evolving understanding of the Nordic languages such as Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and even a little German. I can have a full conversation with an Norwegian in Danish and vice-versa, but I can’t read Norwegian.

Furthermore, I can read Swedish, but not necessarily understand a Swede when they are speaking to me.

Yes, I would say that language is evolving. If we look at the Danish language, we get new words within a year! This year we got smittekæde (translated as “chain of infection,” in reference to COVID-19).

In general, I would say languages are always evolving, growing, and adapting. Language evolves with technology, for example, which brought us the word “emoji.”

You get a whole new perspective on what is going on when you understand Danish. For example, I thought people were discussing interesting topics like culture, politics, and climate change while partying; however, it was more like, “ahh Flemming, you really can’t drink!” This was an eye-opener.

I have learned that when Danes see you trying to learn the language, and if you push them to speak Danish with you, it makes an impact. The older generation is impressed and welcomes it; they also expect it!

The younger generations don’t care as much because they speak both English and Danish very well. But do expect to [be asked to say] say “rød grøv med flød!” And yes my rendition is flawless now!

All in all, if you are not very good at speaking Danish, they’ll help you with pronunciation and translation. But do push them to help you [if you need it].

Some Danes love to hear someone with an American accent speaking Danish; they find it funny.

If a person learning Danish is trying to communicate in Danish, and does not ask to speak in other languages, then the conversation would just be in Danish. Danes would try to take it slow so the other person understands.

From my perspective, I work in customer service and speak to a lot of different people. I have met people that are learning Danish and I will just let the customer speak at their own pace.

I never interrupt the person and have never had a hard time understanding the other person. If the customer doesn’t understand me, I would speak slower or try to explain it differently.

Overall, I would say that the Danes take in non-Danes with open arms, which gives the non-Danes the courage to speak Danish.

You get a whole new perspective on what is going on when you understand Danish. For example, I thought people were discussing interesting topics like culture, politics, and climate change while partying; however, it was more like, “ahh Flemming, you really can’t drink!” This was an eye-opener.

I have learned that when Danes see you trying to learn the language, and if you push them to speak Danish with you, it makes an impact. The older generation is impressed and welcomes it; they also expect it!

The younger generations don’t care as much because they speak both English and Danish very well. But do expect to [be asked to say] say “rød grøv med flød!” And yes my rendition is flawless now!

All in all, if you are not very good at speaking Danish, they’ll help you with pronunciation and translation. But do push them to help you [if you need it].

Some Danes love to hear someone with an American accent speaking Danish; they find it funny.

If a person learning Danish is trying to communicate in Danish, and does not ask to speak in other languages, then the conversation would just be in Danish. Danes would try to take it slow so the other person understands.

From my perspective, I work in customer service and speak to a lot of different people. I have met people that are learning Danish and I will just let the customer speak at their own pace.

I never interrupt the person and have never had a hard time understanding the other person. If the customer doesn’t understand me, I would speak slower or try to explain it differently.

Overall, I would say that the Danes take in non-Danes with open arms, which gives the non-Danes the courage to speak Danish.