When you first move to Denmark, my advice is to attend Danish classes rather than rely only on language-learning apps. This is especially important when learning Danish.
I studied Spanish in school, and in Spanish, pronunciation is generally close to how words are written. In Danish, that is not always the case. There are silent d’s and g’s, three additional letters in the alphabet, and vowel sounds that are very different from English.
I was one of those people who initially tried to learn Danish on my own. Learning grammar through apps was very helpful, but because Danish pronunciation is difficult and I did not have enough real speaking practice, I never had the confidence to speak fully in Danish in Copenhagen. It can also be difficult to start speaking Danish because people in Copenhagen are generally very good at English and often switch to English immediately.
I started taking Danish classes a few months ago. There are three different learning tracks, ranging from easier courses to more intensive ones. Since my listening and speaking skills were not yet strong enough, I decided to start with Module 1 in the intensive course.
I really enjoy the classes because I can finally practice pronouncing Danish words without feeling embarrassed about making mistakes. The teachers are also there to correct me and help me improve. The classes are fun, and I now feel much more comfortable speaking Danish and understanding what people are saying.
My children attend Danish daycare, and the more time I spend learning Danish, the more comfortable I feel speaking with their teachers and understanding what they tell me.
The Module 1 exam is about using the skills you have learned in class. It is divided into two oral parts. In the first part, the examiner asks you questions about your daily life. You prepare six possible topics and choose two of them for the exam. In the second part, you ask the examiner questions based on a topic or picture that you are given.
As I write this post, I am preparing for the exam. Below are the notes and materials that I would like to share with other Danish learners.
How to ask questions:
| Question Word / Modal | Example Questions | Example Responses | English Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hvad (What) | Hvad hedder du? / Hvad laver du i Danmark? / Hvad koster den her kjole? | Jeg hedder Rasmus. / Jeg er studerende. / Den koster 799 kroner. | Used for general information, names, occupations, and prices. |
| Hvorfor (Why) | Hvorfor flyttede du til Danmark? / Hvorfor går du til dansk? / Hvorfor kommer du for sent? | På grund af mit arbejde. / Fordi jeg bor i Danmark. / Jeg skulle arbejde over. | Used to ask for reasons or causes for specific actions or situations. |
| Hvornår (When) | Hvornår er du født? / Hvornår kom du til Danmark? / Hvornår begynder undervisningen? | Den 18. april 1984. / For halvandet år siden. / Den begynder på mandag. | Used for specific points in time, dates, or travel arrivals. |
| Hvem (Who) | Hvem var du sammen med? / Hvem skal du besøge? / Hvem ejer bogen? | Min kæreste. / En veninde. / Det er Kristoffers. | Used to identify people or companions. |
| Hvordan (How) | Hvordan går det? / Hvordan staver du det? / Hvordan kommer du derud? | Det går godt. / V-E-R-O-N-I-K-A. / Jeg tager toget. | Used for well-being, spelling, or methods (like transport). |
| Hvor … hen (Where to) | Hvor skal du hen? / Hvor skal vi tage hen? / Hvor flyver I hen? | Jeg skal på arbejde. / Vi kan tage på Sams Bar. / Vi flyver til Norge. | Dynamic movement: Used when asking about a destination. |
| Hvor … henne (Where at) | Hvor bor du henne? / Hvor arbejder du henne? / Hvor står det henne? | Jeg bor på Amager. / På en spansk restaurant. / I linje to på side 117. | Static location: Used when asking where something is located. |
| Hvor mange (How many) | Hvor mange kursister er der? / Hvor mange sprog kan du tale? / Hvor mange børn har I? | Der er 16. / Jeg kan tale tre sprog. / Vi har to børn. | Used for countable quantities. |
| Hvor tit (How often) | Hvor tit går du i biografen? / Hvor tit hører du musik? / Hvor tit tager du til Berlin? | Et par gange om måneden. / Hver dag. / To gange om året. | Used for frequency of habits or recurring activities. |
| Hvor længe (How long) | Hvor længe har du boet her? / Hvor længe har du gået til dansk? / Hvor længe har vi pause? | I to år. / I to måneder. / I et kvarter. | Used for the total duration of an ongoing situation. |
| Hvor [Adj] (How [Adj]) | Hvor gammel er du? / Hvor stor er lejligheden? / Hvor gamle er de? | Jeg er 29. / Den er 80 kvadratmeter. / De er 81 og 86. | Used to ask about dimensions, age, or characteristics. |
| Kan (Can) | Kan du tale dansk? / Kan du danse salsa? / Kan jeg betale med Dankort? | Ja, det kan jeg godt. / Nej, det kan jeg ikke. / Ja, det gør vi. | Ability or possibility: Asks if someone is capable of an action. |
| Skal (Shall/Plans) | Skal du på ferie? / Skal I være hjemme i julen? / Skal vi ikke gå en tur? | Ja, det skal jeg. / Nej, vi skal til Norge. / Ja, det kan vi godt. | Plans/Necessity: Used for scheduled future events or suggestions. |
| Vil (Want to) | Vil du med i biografen? / Vil du have noget at drikke? / Vil du godt sige det igen? | Ja, det vil jeg gerne. / Nej tak. / Selvfølgelig. | Wishes/Desires: Used for polite requests and invitations. |
| Må (May) | Må jeg spørge om noget? / Må jeg låne 200 kroner? / Må man ryge her? | Ja, selvfølgelig! / Ja, værsgo. / Nej, det må man ikke. | Permission: Used to ask for consent or state prohibitions. |
| Yes/No (Inversion) | Bor du alene? / Cykler du til arbejde? / Er du gift? | Ja, det gør jeg. / Ja, det gør jeg. / Ja, det er jeg. | Verb moves to 1st position; responses use “det + verb” pattern. |
| Tag Questions | Du er italiener, ikke? / Din mand taler ikke dansk, vel? / Du er ikke vegetar, vel? | Jo, det er jeg. / Nej, det gør han ikke. / Jo, det er jeg faktisk. | Used to confirm assumptions: ikke? (positive) or vel? (negative). |
| Identification-det | Er det din bog? / Er det dit glas? / Er det dine solbriller? | Ja, det er det. / Nej, det er det ikke. / Ja, det er det. | “Det” acts as a subject and a stand-in for the object in identity answers. |