Danish/Lesson 1

^ Lektion 2: Familie ^ Lektion 3: Tal og Farver ^ A note on pronunciation Danish words are rather difficult for English-speakers to pronounce correctly when given only the written form. Even after hearing the words being spoken, the sounds can be frustrating to reproduce. The pronunciation guide is an attempt to explain how the words should be spoken, but these rules are quite hard to follow when confronted with a word like Smørrebrødsjomfru (refers to a woman making something called "Smørrebrød", which is a slice of dark bread with butter and a lot of fillings on top, like salad, fish, "remoulade" etc.). Here's a very incomplete list of tips for the simple greetings in this lesson: Hej ("Hi") = almost like the English Hi. Sound sample Media:Hej.ogg Dav = say Dau. Sound sample Media:Dav.ogg Goddag ("Goodday") = the last g is silent. Sound sample Media:Goddag.ogg Godmorgen ("Goodmorning") = "go-moarn". The r is pronounced in the back of the throat, nearly silent. Sound sample Media:Godmorgen.ogg Hellos and Goodbyes in Danish Hellos: Hello! Hej! Hejsa! Dav! Goddag! Good morning! Godmorgen! Good evening! Godaften! What's up! Hvad så! Goodbyes: Goodbye/Farewell Farvel! Bye! Hej hej! See you later! Vi ses senere! See you!(Shortened) Vi ses! Good night! Godnat! Samtale 1 ~ Conversation 1 Sofie and Louise are friends. They meet and talk about their day. Louise: Hej Sofie, hvordan går det? Sofie: Det går godt, tak. Hvad med dig? Louise: Jeg har det fint. Sofie: Hvad så? Louise: Ikke noget særligt Sofie: Hej hej, Louise. Louise: Vi ses. Ordforklaringer ~ Vocabulary Hej = Hi, hello Hvordan går det? / Hvordan har du det? = How's it going? / How are you (Literally: "How goes it?" / "How (do) you have it?") Det går godt / Jeg har det fint = Well / I'm fine (Literally: "It goes good." / "I have it fine.") Tak = Thanks Hvad med dig? = How about you? (Literally: "What with you?) Hvad så? = What's up? (Literally: "What then?") Ikke noget særligt = Nothing in particular (Literally: "Not anything particular") You can probably figure out the rest, with the help of the Hellos and Goodbyes table. Samtale 2 Take a look at this short formal conversation to see how Danes address each other formally. Hr. Nilsen: Goddag! Hvordan har De det? Hr. Klaaborg: Goddag! Jeg har det fint, tak. Hr. Nilsen: Godt, Farvel! Hr. Klaaborg: Farvel! Voice sample (one voice) Ordforklaringer Hr. = Mister (mr.) Frk., Frøken = Ms., Miss Fr., Fru = Mrs., Missis You may have noticed that hr. Nilsen referred to hr. Klaaborg as De. This is the polite form for you, as opposed to the casual du, which Sofie and Louise used. This is rarely used in Danish today though, but can still be seen when people demand great respect, like, for example, the nobility. Flere ordforklaringer ~ More vocabulary besøge visit bro bridge ven, venner friend, friends samtale, samtaler conversation, conversations grammatik grammar lektie homework lektion lesson gade, vej street, road ordforklaringer word explanations, vocabulary at gå to go/walk med with at være to be at møde to meet at besøge to visit at forstå to understand men but, however også also, too, as well tak thank you; thanks det it (pronoun) nej no ja yes korrekt correct allerede already smuk beautiful meget very og and Pronominer ~ Pronouns The Danish pronouns shouldn't be too hard to memorize, as they are most of the time close to their English equivalents. vi = we and os = us, for example. Subject (nominative) Object (accusative) Danish English Danish English 1st Person Singular jeg I mig me 2nd Person Singular du you dig you 3rd Person Singular hanhunden/det hesheit hamhendeden/det himherit           1st Person Plural vi we os us 2nd Person Plural I you jer you 3rd Person Plural/Polite 2nd Person Singular de they dem them ^ Lektion 2: Familie ^ Lektion 3: Tal og Farver ^