625 basic words in Danish
The words themselves are all from this blogpost, so feel free to make your own version in whatever language!
(I also might’ve added in a few, ooops)
This post is very very long and will be under a cut. Please keep in mind that I am a human person and there might be some mistakes and typos.
Note: The abbreviations “fk.” and “itk.” indicate grammatical gender, common (fælleskøn, “en”) and neuter (intetkøn, “et”).
Animals
dog – hund, fk.
cat – kat, fk.
fish – fisk, fk.
bird – fugl, fk.
cow – ko, fk.
pig – gris, fk.
mouse – mus, fk.
horse – hest, fk.
wing – vinge, fk.
animal – dyr, itk.
Transportation
train – tog, itk.
plane – fly, itk. · flyvemaskine, fk. · flyver, fk.
car – bil, fk.
truck – lastbil, fk.
bicycle – cykel, fk.
bus – bus, fk.
boat – båd, fk.
ship – skib, itk.
tire – hjul, itk.
gasoline – benzin, fk.
engine – motor, fk.
ticket – billet, fk.
transportation – transport, fk.
Location
city – by, fk. · storby, fk. (lit. “big-city”)
house – hus, itk.
apartment/flat – lejlighed, fk.
street/road – vej, fk. · gade, fk.
airport – lufthavn, fk.
train station – togstation, fk.
bridge – bro, fk.
hotel – hotel, itk.
restaurant – restaurant, fk.
farm – gård, fk. · bondegård, fk.
court (of law) – domstol, fk. · (lands-/by-)ret, fk.
school – skole, fk.
office – kontor, itk.
room – værelse, itk. · rum, itk.
town – by, fk. · landsby, fk.
university – universitet, itk.
club – klub, fk. · diskotek, itk.
bar – bar, fk.
park – park, fk.
camp – lejr, fk.
store/shop – butik, fk. · forretning, fk.
theatre – teater, itk.
library – bibliotek, itk.
hospital – hospital, itk. · sygehus, itk.
church – kirke, fk.
market – marked, itk.
country (USA, France, etc.) – land, itk.
building – bygning, fk.
ground – jord, fk.
space (outer space) – rummet · det ydre rum
bank – bank, fk.
location – placering, fk. – lokation, fk.
Clothing
hat – hat, fk.
dress – kjole, fk.
suit – jakkesæt, itk.
skirt – nederdel, fk.
shirt – skjorte, fk.
T-shirt – t-shirt, fk.
pants – bukser, fk. pl. (you can say “en buks” if you’re in the fashion industry or weird)
shoe – sko, fk.
pocket – lomme, fk.
coat – frakke, fk.
stain – plet, fk.
clothing – tøj, itk. pl.
Colours
red – rød
green – grøn
blue – blå
yellow – gul
brown – brun
pink – lyserød · pink
orange – orange
black – sort
white – hvid
gray – grå
light – lys · lyse- (eg. lyseblå, lysegrøn)
dark – mørk · mørke- (see above)
colour – farve, fk.
People
son – søn, fk.
daughter – datter, fk.
mother – mor, fk. · moder, fk. (mostly outdated)
father – far, fk. – fader, fk. (mostly outdated)
parent – forælder, fk.
baby – baby, fk. · spædbarn, itk.
man – mand, fk.
woman – kvinde, fk.
brother – bror, fk. · broder, fk. (mostly outdated)
sister – søster, fk.
sibling – søskende, fk. pl.
family – familie, fk.
grandfather – bedstefar, fk. · morfar, fk. (maternal grandpa) · farfar, fk. (paternal grandpa)
grandmother – bedstemor, fk. · mormor, fk. · farmor, fk.
husband – mand, fk. · ægtemand, fk.
wife – hustru, fk. · ægtehustru, fk. · viv, fk. · kone, fk.
spouse – ægtefælle, fk.
king – konge, fk.
queen – dronning, fk.
president – præsident, fk.
neighbour – nabo, fk. · næste, fk. (biblical)
boy – dreng, fk.
girl – pige, fk.
child – barn, itk.
adult – voksen, fk.
human – menneske, itk.
friend – ven, fk. (gender neutral or male) · veninde, fk. (female)
victim – offer, itk.
player – spiller, fk.
fan – fan, fk.
crowd – menneskemængde, fk. · publikum, itk. (audience)
person – person, fk.
Job
teacher – lærer, fk.
student – elev, fk. · studerende, fk.
lawyer – advokat, fk.
doctor – læge, fk. · doktor, fk.
patient – patient, fk.
waiter – tjener, fk.
secretary – sekretær, fk.
priest – præst, fk.
police – politimand, fk. (male) · politikvinde, fk. (female)
army – hær, fk.
soldier – soldat, fk.
artist – kunstner, fk.
author – forfatter, fk.
manager – manager, fk.
reporter – journalist, fk. · reporter, fk.
actor – skuespiller, fk.
job – arbejde, itk. · job, itk.
Society
religion – religion, fk.
heaven – himmel, fk. · Himlen
hell – helvede itk. · Helvede
death – død, fk. · Døden
medicine – medicin, fk.
money – penge, pl.
dollar – dollar, fk.
bill – seddel, fk. · pengeseddel, fk.
marriage – ægteskab, itk.
wedding – bryllup, itk.
team – hold, itk. · team, itk.
race – race, fk.
ethnicity – etnicitet, fk.
sex (the act) – sex, fk.
sex (gender)* – køn, itk.
murder – mord, itk.
prison – fængsel, itk.
technology – teknologi, fk.
energy – energi, fk.
war – krig, fk.
peace – fred, fk.
attack – angreb, itk.
election – valg, itk.
magazine – magasin, itk. · blad, itk.
newspaper – avis, fk.
poison – gift, fk.
gun – pistol, fk.
sport – sport, fk.
race (sport) – løb, itk.
exercise – motion, fk.
ball – bold, fk.
game – spil, itk. · leg, fk.
price – pris, fk.
contract – kontrakt, fk.
drug – stof, itk.
sign – skilt, itk. (like a road sign)
science – videnskab, fk.
God – Gud
*I want to make it clear that I do not believe that gender and sex are the same, however they are the same word in Danish
Art
band – band, itk. · orkester, itk. (technically orchestra)
song – sang, fk.
instrument (musical) – instrument, itk. · musikinstrument, itk.
music – musik, fk.
movie – film, fk.
art – kunst, fk.
Beverages
coffee – kaffe, fk.
tea – te, fk. · the, fk. (unofficial, but very common spelling)
wine – vin, fk.
beer – øl, fk.
juice – juice, fk. · saft, fk.
water – vand, itk.
milk – mælk, fk.
beverage – drik, fk. · drikkevare, fk.
Food
egg – æg, itk.
cheese – ost, fk.
bread – brød, itk.
soup – suppe, fk.
cake – kage, fk.
chicken – kylling, fk.
pork – svin, itk. · svinekød, itk.
beef – okse, itk. · oksekød, itk.
apple – æble, itk.
banana – banan, fk.
orange – appelsin, fk.
lemon – citron, fk.
corn – majs, fk.
rice – ris, itk.
oil – olie, fk.
seed – frø, itk.
knife – kniv, fk.
spoon – ske, fk.
fork – gaffel, fk.
plate – tallerken, fk.
cup – glas, itk. · kop, fk.
breakfast – morgenmad, fk.
lunch – frokost, fk.
dinner – aftensmad, fk. · middag, fk.
sugar – sukker, itk.
salt – salt, itk.
bottle – flaske, fk.
food – mad, fk.
Home
table – bord, itk.
chair – stol, fk.
bed – seng, fk.
dream – drøm, fk.
window – vindue, itk.
door – dør, fk.
bedroom – soveværelse, itk.
kitchen – køkken, itk.
bathroom – badeværelse, itk. · toilet, itk.
pencil – blyant, fk.
pen – kuglepen, fk. · pen, fk.
photograph – fotografi, itk. · foto, itk. · billede, itk.
soap – sæbe, fk.
book – bog, fk.
page – side, fk.
key – nøgle, fk.
paint – maling, fk.
letter – brev, itk.
note – note, fk.
wall – væg, fk.
paper – papir, itk.
floor – gulv, itk.
ceiling – loft, itk.
roof – tag, itk.
pool – pool, fk. · swimmingpool, fk. · pøl, fk. · svømmepøl, fk. · bassin, itk · svømmebassin, itk. · badebassin, itk. (specifically and inflatable pool)
lock – lås, fk.
telephone – telefon, fk.
garden – have, fk.
yard – have, fk.
needle – nål, fk.
bag – taske, fk. · pose, fk.
box – kasse, fk. · boks, fk.
gift – gave, fk.
card – kort, itk.
ring – ring, fk.
tool – værktøj, itk.
Electronics
clock – ur, itk.
lamp – lampe, fk.
fan – ventilator, fk.
cell phone – mobil, fk · mobiltelefon, fk.
network – netværk, itk.
computer – computer, fk. · EDB-maskine, fk. (use this if you’re like 80 years old)
program (computer) – program, itk. · computerprogram, itk.
laptop – bærbar, fk. · bærbar computer, fk. · laptop, fk.
screen – skærm, fk.
camera – kamera, itk. · fotografiapparat, itk. (again, great if you’re 80)
television – fjernsyn, itk. · TV, itk.
radio – radio, fk.
Body
head – hoved, itk.
neck – nakke, fk. · hals, fk, (technically “throat”, but if you’re talking THE ENTIRE neck area you should use hals)
face – ansigt, itk.
beard – skæg, itk.
hair – hår, itk.
eye – øje, itk.
mouth – mund, fk.
lip – læbe, fk.
nose – næse, fk.
tooth – tand, fk.
ear – øre, itk.
tear (drop) – tåre, fk.
tongue – tunge, fk.
back – ryg, fk.
toe – tå, fk.
finger – finger, fk.
foot – food, fk.
hand – hånd, fk.
leg – ben, itk.
arm – arm, fk.
shoulder – skulder, fk.
heart – hjerte, itk.
blood – blod, itk.
brain – hjerne, fk.
knee – knæ, itk.
sweat – sved, fk.
disease – sygdom, fk.
bone – knogle, fk. · ben, itk.
voice – stemme, fk.
skin – hud, fk.
body – krop, fk.
Nature
sea – hav, itk.
ocean – hav, itk. · ocean, itk.
river – flod, fk.
mountain – bjerg, itk.
rain – regn, fk.
snow – sne, fk.
tree – træ, itk.
sun – sol, fk.
moon – måne, fk.
world – verden, fk.
Earth – Jorden
forest – skov, fk.
sky – himmel, fk.
plant – plante, fk.
wind – vind, fk.
soil/earth – jord, fk.
flower – blomst, fk.
valley – dal, fk.
root – rod, fk.
lake – sø, fk.
star – stjerne, fk.
grass – græs, itk.
leaf – blad, itk.
air – luft, fk.
sand – sand, itk.
beach – strand, fk.
wave – bølge, fk.
fire – ild, fk. · bål, itk. (like a bonfire) · brand, fk. (the kind that firefighters put out)
ice – is, fk.
island – ø, fk.
hill – bakke, fk. · høj, fk.
heat – varme, fk. · hede, fk.
nature – natur, fk.
Materials
glass – glas, itk.
metal – metal, itk.
plastic – plastik, fk.
wood – træ, itk.
stone – sten, fk.
diamond – diamant, fk.
clay – ler, itk.
dust – støv, itk.
gold – guld, itk.
copper – kobber, itk.
silver – sølv, itk.
material – materiale, itk.
Math/Measurements
meter – meter, fk.
centimeter – centimeter, fk.
kilogram – kilo, itk. · kilogram, itk.
inch – tomme, fk.
foot – fod, fk.
pound – pund, itk.
half – halv
circle – cirkel, fk.
square – firkant, fk. · kvadrat, itk.
temperature – temperatur, fk.
date – dato, fk.
weight – vægt, fk.
edge – kant, fk.
corner – hjørne, itk.
Misc Nouns
map – kort, itk.
dot – prik, fk. · punktum, itk. (punctuation)
consonant – konsonant, fk.
vowel – vokal, fk.
light – let (weight, adj.) · lys, itk. (illuminating, noun)
sound – lyd, fk.
yes – ja
no – nej
piece – stykke, itk.
pain – smerte, fk.
injury – skade, fk.
hole – hul, itk.
image – billede, itk.
pattern – mønster, itk.
noun – navneord, itk. · substantiv, itk.
verb – udsagnsord, itk. · verbum, itk.
adjective – tillægsord, itk. · adjektiv, itk.
Directions
top – top, fk.
bottom – bund, fk.
side – side, fk.
front – forside, fk. · foran
back – bagside, fk. · bagved
outside – udenfor · udendørs
inside – indenfor · indendørs
up – op
down – ned
left – venstre
right – højre
straight – ligeud · lige
north – nord
south – syd
east – øst
west – vest
direction – retning
Seasons
summer – sommer, fk.
spring – forår, itk.
winter – vinter, fk.
fall – efterår, itk.
season – årstid, fk. (of the year) · sæson, fk. (of a show)
Numbers
0 – nul
1 – en · et
2 – to
3 – tre
4 – fire
5 – fem
6 – seks
7 – syv
8 – otte
9 – ni
10 – ti
11 – elleve
12 – tolv
13 – tretten
14 – fjorten
15 – femten
16 – seksten
17 – sytten
18 – atten
19 – nitten
20 – tyve
21 – enogtyve (one-and-twenty)
22 – toogtyve
30 – tredive
31 – enogtredive
32 – toogtredive
40 – fyrre · fyrretyve (outdated**) · firti (only for cheques)
41 – enogfyrre
42 – toogfyrre
50 – halvtreds · halvtredsindstyve (outdated**) · femti (cheques)
51 – enoghalvtreds
52 – tooghalvtreds
60 – tres · tresindstyve (outdated**) · seksti (cheques)
61 – enogtres
62 – toogtres
70 – halvfjerds · halvfjerdsindstyve (outdated**) · syvti (cheques)
71 – enoghalvfjerds
72 – tooghalvfjerds
80 – firs · firsindstyve (outdated**) · otti (cheques)
81 – enogfirs
82 – toogfirs
90 – halvfems · halvfemsindstyve (outdated**) · niti (cheques)
91 – enoghalvfems
92 – tooghalvfems
100 – hundred · hundrede · et hundred(e)
101 – (et) hundred(e) og et
102 – hundred og to
110 – hundred og ti
111 – hundred og elleve
1000 – tusind · tusinde · et tusind(e)
1001 – (et) tusind(e) og en
10000 – ti tusind(e)
100000 – hundred(e) tusind(e)
million – million, fk.
billion – milliard, fk.
1st – første · 1. (yes, with the “.”)
2nd – anden · 2.
3rd – trejde · 3.
4th – fjerde · 4.
5th – femte · 5.
6th – sjette · 6.
7th – syvende · 7.
8th – ottende · 8.
9th – niende – 9.
10th – tiende – 10.
11th – ellevte – 11.
12th – tolvte – 12.
13th – trettende – 13.
20th – tyvende
21st – enogtyvende
30th – tredivte
40th – fyrrende · fyrretyvende**
50th – halvtresende · halvtresindstyvende**
60th – tresende · tresindstyvende**
70th – halvfjerdsende · halvfjerdsindstyvende*
80th – firsende · firsindstyvende**
90th – halvfemsende · halvfemsindstyvende**
100th – hundrende
1000th – tusinde
dozen – dusin, itk.
score – snes, fk.
number – tal, itk. · nummer, itk.
**Frankly, I’ve added a lot (19, oops) of kind of unnecessary ordinal numbers, but I promise they do serve a purpose. While it is outdated to use “fyrretyve” for the cardinal number, it is however not uncommon to use “fyrretyvende” for the ordinal number 40th.
If you want to know why Danish numbers are so weird, here’s a post.
Months
January – januar***
February – februar
March – marts
April – april
May – maj
June – juni
July – juli
August – august
September – september
October – oktober
November – november
December – december
***In Danish months aren’t capitalised. Also if you REALLY want to assign them a gender, all months are fælleskøn.
Days of the week
Monday – mandag****
Tuesday – tirsdag
Wednesday – onsdag
Thursday – torsdag
Friday – fredag
Saturday – lørdag
Sunday – søndag
weekday (Monday-Friday) – hverdag, fk.
weekend (Saturday-Sunday) – weekend, fk.
****Days aren’t capitalised either. Again, if you’re really into grammatical genders, the days of the week are fælleskøn.
Time
year – år, itk.
month – måned, fk.
week – uge, fk.
day – dag, fk.
hour – time, fk.
minute – minut, itk.
second – sekond, itk.
morning – morgen, fk.
afternoon – eftermiddag, fk.
evening – aften, fk.
night – nat, fk.
time – tid, fk.
Verbs
work – arbejde
play – spille (things like sports-ball)· lege (kids’ games)
walk – gå · spadsere
run – løbe · spæne
drive – køre
fly – flyve
swim – svømme
go – There’s no direct translation for “go” in Danish. The closest would be “gå”, but that’s not very accurate.
stop – stoppe · standse · holde · holde op
follow – følge · efterfølge / følge efter
think – tænke (the act of thinking) · synes (having an opinion)
speak – tale
say – sige
eat – spise
drink – drikke
kill – dræbe
die – dø
smile – smile
laugh – grine · le
cry – græde
buy – købe
pay – betale
sell – sælge
shoot – skyde
learn – lære*****
jump – hoppe
smell – lugte · dufte
hear (a sound) – høre
listen (music) – høre · lytte til
taste – smage
touch – røre · berøre
see (a bird) – se
watch (TV) – se · kigge på
kiss – kysse
burn – brænde
melt – smelte
dig – grave
explode – eksplodere
sit – sidde · sætte sig (sit down)
stand – stå · rejse sig (stand up)
love – elske
pass by – passere · forbipassere
cut – skære · klippe (with scissors)
fight – kæmpe · slås
lie down – lægge sig · lægge sig ned
dance – danse
sleep – sove
wake up – vågne · vågne op
sing – sove
count – tælle
marry – gifte sig
pray – bede
win – vinde
lose – tabe (a game) · miste (losing an object)
mix – blande
stir – røre · røre rundt · røre rundt i · røre i
bend – bøje
wash – vaske
cook – lave mad · kokkerere
open – åbne
close – lukke
write – skrive
call – ringe til · kalde på
turn – dreje
build – bygge
teach – lære*****
grow – gro · vokse · dyrke (the act of growing a plant)
draw – tegne · trække (like in a lottery)
feed – fodre · made
catch – gribe
throw – kaste
clean – gøre rent · rengøre
find – finde
fall – falde
push – skubbe
pull – trække
carry – bære
break – ødelægge (I break the vase) · gå i stykker (the vase breaks)
wear – have på
hang – hænge
shake – ryste · trykke (shake hands)
sign – gøre tegn · gøre tegn til · underskrive (with a pen) · skrive under på (with a pen)
beat – slå · tæske
lift – løfte
*****Learn and teach are in fact the same word in Danish, which is why you will often hear Danes say “I will learn you abt. smth.”
Adjectives
long – lang
short (vs long) – kort
tall – høj
short (vs tall) – lav
wide – bred
narrow – smal
big/large – stor
small/little – lille
slow – langsom
fast – hurtig
hot – varm
cold – kold
warm – varm
cool – kold · kølig · cool (character trait) · sej (character trait)
new – ny
old – gammel
young – ung
good – god
bad – dårlig · skidt
wet – våd
dry – tør
sick – syg
healthy – rask · sund
loud – høj
quiet – lav
happy – glad
sad – trist · ked af det
beautiful – smuk
ugly – grim
deaf – døv
blind – blind
nice – venlig
mean – ubehagelig · dum
rich – rig
poor – fattig
thick – tyk
thin – tynd
expensive – dyr
cheap – billig
flat – flad
curved – kurvet
male – mandlig
female – kvindelig
tight – stram
loose – løs
high – høj
low – lav
soft – blød
hard – hård
deep – dyb
shallow – lav · overfladisk · snæver
clean – ren
dirty – beskidt
strong – stærk
weak – svag
dead – død
alive – levende
heavy – tung
light (vs heavy) – let
dark – mørk
light (vs dark) – lys
nuclear – nuklear
famous – berømt · famøs
Pronouns
I – jeg
you (singular) – du
he – han
she – hun
it – den · det
we – vi
you (plural) – I (capital i)
they – de
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