When learning Danish, one crucial step to becoming conversational is to familiarize yourself with some of the most common verbs. Here are several basic Danish verbs that you’ll encounter frequently, complete with definitions and example sentences.
At være – to be
This verb is essential in any language, used to describe existence, identity, or characteristics.
Han er læge. – He is a doctor.
At have – to have
This verb expresses possession, ownership, or the existence of characteristics.
Hun har en bil. – She has a car.
At gøre – to do/make
Both ‘do’ and ‘make’ are often translated to ‘at gøre’ in Danish, though sometimes ‘at lave’ is used for making/creating.
De gør deres hjemmearbejde. – They do their homework.
At sige – to say
This verb is used to convey speaking or expressing verbally.
Han siger sandheden. – He tells the truth.
At gå – to go
This verb is for movement or travel from one place to another.
Vi går til skole hver dag. – We go to school every day.
At se – to see
Used to express the act of perceiving with the eyes.
Kan du se stjernerne? – Can you see the stars?
At komme – to come
This is the counterpart of ‘at gå’ and is used to approach or arrive somewhere.
Hun kommer hjem i aften. – She is coming home tonight.
At skulle – will/shall/must (modal verb)
This verb is used for expressing obligation or future activities.
Du skal gøre dine lektier. – You must do your homework.
At kunne – can/be able to (modal verb)
It expresses capability or possibility.
Kan du tale dansk? – Can you speak Danish?
At ville – to want (modal verb)
This verb indicates desire or intention.
Jeg vil gerne have en kop kaffe. – I would like a cup of coffee.
At spise – to eat
It refers to the action of consuming food.
Vi spiser morgenmad klokken otte. – We eat breakfast at eight o’clock.
At drikke – to drink
This verb is for the intake of liquids.
De drikker vand efter at løbe. – They drink water after running.
At sove – to sleep
Refers to the state of rest where consciousness is suspended.
Børnene sover allerede. – The children are already sleeping.
At skrive – to write
This verb covers all forms of writing.
Hun skriver en bog. – She is writing a book.
At læse – to read
It describes the process of interpreting written symbols.
Han læser avis hver morgen. – He reads the newspaper every morning.
At lytte – to listen
This verb means to actively pay attention to sounds.
Lytter du til musik? – Are you listening to music?
At tale – to speak/talk
At tale refers to the action of verbal communication.
Vi taler om vejret. – We are talking about the weather.
By learning these basic verbs and using them in your everyday conversations, you’ll be laying a strong foundation for your Danish skills. Remember, practice is key to mastering a new language, so don’t hesitate to use these verbs as often as you can in speech and writing!
