Learning Danish can open up a world of opportunities in the workplace, especially in Denmark where being able to communicate effectively in Danish can be a considerable asset. Whether you’re working in Denmark or with Danish colleagues, here are some essential workplace vocabularies to help you navigate the office environment with confidence.

Arbejde
The word “arbejde” means work or job. It can refer to the place where you are employed, the specific tasks you do, or the concept of labor in general.
Hun fandt arbejde som ingeniør ved en stor virksomhed. (She found work as an engineer at a large company.)

Kollega
A “kollega” is a colleague or co-worker, someone you work alongside in your job.
Jeg vil gerne introducere dig for min kollega, Anders. (I would like to introduce you to my colleague, Anders.)

Møde
The word “møde” translates to meeting and is used when referring to any kind of professional gathering or appointment.
Vi har et vigtigt møde med klienten næste uge. (We have an important meeting with the client next week.)

Kontor
“Kontor” means office, the building or room where professional or clerical activities are carried out.
Jeg tilbringer det meste af min dag på kontoret. (I spend most of my day in the office.)

Chef
A “chef” is a boss or supervisor, the person who is in charge and to whom you report at work.
Min chef har bedt mig om at afslutte rapporten inden fredag. (My boss has asked me to finish the report by Friday.)

Pause
A “pause” refers to a break, usually a short period of rest from work.
Skal vi tage en kaffepause om femten minutter? (Shall we take a coffee break in fifteen minutes?)

Løn
“Løn” translates to salary or wages, the money paid regularly for one’s job.
Lønnen udbetales den sidste bankdag i måneden. (The salary is paid on the last banking day of the month.)

Frist
A “frist” is a deadline, a date or time by which something must be completed.
Fristen for at indsende vores projekt er på mandag. (The deadline to submit our project is on Monday.)

Afdeling
An “afdeling” refers to a department, a division of a larger company or organization focused on a specific area of work.
Hun arbejder i marketingafdelingen. (She works in the marketing department.)

Fyraften
The word “fyraften” describes the end of the workday, the time when one stops working for the day.
Efter fyraften går vi sommetider sammen ud og drikker en øl. (After work, we sometimes go out for a beer together.)

Ansættelse
“Ansættelse” means employment, the condition of having a paid job.
Han underskrev sin ansættelseskontrakt i går. (He signed his employment contract yesterday.)

By incorporating these Danish workplace vocabularies into your conversations, you can improve your professional Danish language skills and better integrate into the Danish work culture. Remember, regular practice in a real-world context is one of the most effective ways to learn a new language, so take every opportunity to converse with your Danish colleagues and put these words to use!