[edit] Guide Note
Danish is the official language of Denmark, and is one of the languages spoken in Greenland and The Faroe Islands. Large Danish language communities exist outside of Europe in Canada and the United States.1 English is widely spoken and understood in Denmark.
[edit] Fast Facts
- Language Family: North Germanic language, Indo-European
- Number of Speakers: 6 million people2
- Official Language: Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands
- Major Dialects: Eastern Danish (østdansk), Island Danish (ømål or ødansk), Jutlandic (jysk)
[edit] Common Words and Phrases
- Welcome: Velkommen
- Hello: Hej
- Yes: Ja
- No: Nej
- Please: Vil du være så venlig at...
- What is your name?: Hvad hedder du?
- My name is: Jeg hedder
- Where are you from?: Hvor kommer du fra?
- Sorry: Undskyld
- What time is it?: Hvad er klokken?
- Do you speak English?: Taler du engelsk?
- Help: Hjælp
[edit] History
The Danish language can be categorized into three historical periods: Old Danish (800–1100), Middle Danish (1100–1500), and Modern Danish (from 1500). In Old Danish, no common language was used, mainly provincial languages. In Middle Danish, there was a German influence, introducing common grammar, and was used in government offices. In Modern Danish, Danish was now a national language used in printing and publishing. The alphabet was changed to reflect the other Scandinavian languages Swedish and Norwegian, eliminating German.3
[edit] Related Pages on Mahalo
Dutch |
Russian |
Denmark |
Romanian |
Hebrew |
How to Speak Russian |
language |
Greenland
