Learning Danish can be a fascinating journey, especially as you progress from beginner to intermediate level. At this stage, you’ll find that your vocabulary needs to expand significantly to help you engage in more complex conversations and understand a wider range of topics. In this article, we will explore some essential Danish words and phrases that every intermediate learner should know. This will not only enhance your vocabulary but also improve your ability to express yourself more fluently and accurately in Danish.

Everyday Vocabulary

Mastering everyday vocabulary is crucial for any language learner. Here are some common Danish words and phrases that you will find useful in daily conversations.

Mad (food) – This is a fundamental word that you will use frequently. Whether you are talking about what you like to eat or asking for a menu at a restaurant, “mad” is indispensable.

Drikke (drink) – Similar to “mad,” knowing how to talk about drinks is essential. You might want to ask, “Hvad vil du drikke?” (What do you want to drink?) when you’re out with friends.

Ven / Veninde (friend / female friend) – Friendship is an important part of life, and these words will come in handy when discussing your social circle.

Familie (family) – Talking about your family is a common topic of conversation. Words like “mor” (mother), “far” (father), “søster” (sister), and “bror” (brother) are also important to know.

Arbejde (work) – Whether you are discussing your job or asking someone about theirs, this word is essential. For example, “Jeg arbejder som lærer” (I work as a teacher).

Rejse (travel) – If you enjoy traveling, this word will be very useful. You might say, “Jeg elsker at rejse” (I love to travel).

Adjectives

Adjectives are crucial for adding detail and emotion to your conversations. Here are some intermediate-level adjectives you should know:

Glædelig (joyful) – This word can help you express happiness. For example, “Jeg er meget glædelig” (I am very joyful).

Trist (sad) – On the flip side, knowing how to express sadness is equally important. “Jeg føler mig trist” (I feel sad).

Interessant (interesting) – This is a useful word when discussing topics that capture your attention. “Det er meget interessant” (That is very interesting).

Kedelig (boring) – The opposite of interesting, this word can help you express disinterest. “Jeg synes, det er kedeligt” (I think it is boring).

Vigtig (important) – This adjective is essential for emphasizing significance. “Det er meget vigtigt” (It is very important).

Let (easy) / Svær (difficult) – These adjectives are useful when discussing tasks or challenges. “Det er let” (It is easy) or “Det er svært” (It is difficult).

Verbs

Expanding your verb vocabulary is crucial for expressing actions and states of being. Here are some intermediate-level Danish verbs that you should know:

At tro (to believe) – This verb is useful in many contexts, such as expressing beliefs or opinions. “Jeg tror på dig” (I believe in you).

At forstå (to understand) – Essential for any conversation, this verb helps you express comprehension. “Jeg forstår dig” (I understand you).

At forklare (to explain) – When you need to clarify something, this verb will be very handy. “Kan du forklare det?” (Can you explain that?).

At lære (to learn) – A crucial verb for any language learner. “Jeg lærer dansk” (I am learning Danish).

At bruge (to use) – This verb is useful in many situations. “Hvordan bruger man dette?” (How do you use this?).

At rejse (to travel) – If you love traveling, this verb is essential. “Jeg rejser til Danmark næste uge” (I am traveling to Denmark next week).

Expressions and Phrases

Knowing some common expressions and phrases can greatly improve your conversational skills. Here are a few that are particularly useful for intermediate learners:

Hvordan går det? (How are you?) – A common greeting that will help you start conversations.

Hvad laver du? (What are you doing?) – Useful for asking about someone’s activities or plans.

Jeg har det godt (I am doing well) – A typical response to the question above.

Det er en god idé (That’s a good idea) – Useful for expressing agreement or approval.

Jeg ved det ikke (I don’t know) – Handy for those moments when you are unsure.

Det er ligegyldigt (It doesn’t matter) – Useful for dismissing something as unimportant.

Time and Date

Being able to discuss time and dates is crucial for planning and organizing. Here are some relevant words and phrases:

Klokken er… (The time is…) – Useful for telling the time. “Klokken er to” (It is two o’clock).

I dag (today), I morgen (tomorrow), I går (yesterday) – These words help you discuss different days.

Uge (week), Måned (month), År (year) – Useful for discussing longer periods of time.

Mandag (Monday), Tirsdag (Tuesday), Onsdag (Wednesday), Torsdag (Thursday), Fredag (Friday), Lørdag (Saturday), Søndag (Sunday) – The days of the week are essential for planning and scheduling.

Januar (January), Februar (February), Marts (March), April (April), Maj (May), Juni (June), Juli (July), August (August), September (September), Oktober (October), November (November), December (December) – The months of the year are also crucial for discussing time.

Numbers

Understanding numbers is essential for a variety of situations, from shopping to telling the time. Here are some numbers that every intermediate learner should know:

En (one), To (two), Tre (three), Fire (four), Fem (five), Seks (six), Syv (seven), Otte (eight), Ni (nine), Ti (ten) – Knowing the numbers from one to ten is fundamental.

Elleve (eleven), Tolv (twelve), Tretten (thirteen), Fjorten (fourteen), Femten (fifteen), Seksten (sixteen), Syvten (seventeen), Atten (eighteen), Nitten (nineteen), Tyve (twenty) – The numbers from eleven to twenty are also very useful.

Hundrede (hundred), Tusind (thousand) – These larger numbers are useful for more complex conversations involving quantities.

Colors

Knowing how to describe colors can be very useful in many contexts, from shopping to describing objects. Here are some essential colors:

Rød (red), Blå (blue), Grøn (green), Gul (yellow), Sort (black), Hvid (white), Brun (brown), Grå (gray), Lyserød (pink), Orange (orange) – These basic colors will help you describe a wide range of objects and scenes.

Shopping

When you go shopping in a Danish-speaking country, knowing the right vocabulary can make your experience much smoother. Here are some key words and phrases:

Pris (price) – Essential for discussing how much something costs. “Hvad er prisen?” (What is the price?).

Billig (cheap), Dyr (expensive) – Useful for discussing the cost of items. “Det er for dyrt” (It is too expensive).

Butik (shop) – Knowing the word for shop is essential. “Jeg går til butikken” (I am going to the shop).

At købe (to buy) – Essential for any shopping trip. “Jeg vil købe dette” (I want to buy this).

Tilbud (offer) – Useful for discussing sales and discounts. “Er der nogen tilbud?” (Are there any offers?).

Kvittering (receipt) – Important for returns or exchanges. “Kan jeg få en kvittering?” (Can I get a receipt?).

Common Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that connect clauses or sentences. They are essential for creating more complex and nuanced sentences. Here are some common Danish conjunctions that intermediate learners should know:

Og (and) – This is one of the most basic conjunctions but also one of the most important. “Jeg har en kat og en hund” (I have a cat and a dog).

Men (but) – Useful for contrasting ideas. “Jeg vil gerne komme, men jeg har travlt” (I would like to come, but I am busy).

Eller (or) – This conjunction is used to present alternatives. “Vil du have te eller kaffe?” (Do you want tea or coffee?).

Fordi (because) – This is essential for explaining reasons. “Jeg er her, fordi jeg vil lære” (I am here because I want to learn).

Så (so) – Useful for indicating a result. “Jeg er træt, så jeg går i seng” (I am tired, so I am going to bed).

Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic expressions are phrases whose meanings are not always apparent from the individual words. Knowing some common idioms can make your Danish sound more natural and fluent. Here are a few to get you started:

At tage benene på nakken (to take the legs on the neck) – This means to hurry up or run away quickly.

At have sommerfugle i maven (to have butterflies in the stomach) – This means to be nervous or anxious about something.

At slå to fluer med ét smæk (to hit two flies with one smack) – This means to kill two birds with one stone.

At kaste håndklædet i ringen (to throw the towel in the ring) – This means to give up or surrender.

At være på herrens mark (to be on the lord’s field) – This means to be in a difficult or tricky situation.

Conclusion

Expanding your Danish vocabulary at the intermediate level involves not just learning new words, but also understanding how to use them effectively in conversation. By incorporating these everyday words, adjectives, verbs, expressions, and idiomatic phrases into your vocabulary, you will find yourself able to communicate more fluently and naturally. Remember, practice is key, so try to use these words and phrases in your daily interactions as much as possible. Happy learning!