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Matching words to make them stick Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Aug 27, 2017
Which is most important when learning a new language – grammar or words (vocabulary)? Well, most native speakers will forgive you if you make a grammatical mistake or two. Without basic words, however, you can only point and smile. Here is a neat trick to increase your vocabulary: Learn micro-phrases with two or three words…
Where not to put IKKE? Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jul 31, 2017
Ikke (not) phrases are often called negative phrases – even if some of them have a very positive meaning: Vi vil ikke have mere vold! (We don’t want any more violence!) Sometimes, though, even the most positive negative sentence can drive a poor language-learner mad: Where do(n’t) I put ikke? Let’s take some simple…
Spelling your name in Danish Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jul 29, 2017
When you check in at a hostel or meet a new friend, you’re sometimes asked to spell your navn [naoon] (name). Fortunately, the Danish alfabet [alfaBEHT] is quite similar to the English one you already know. In case you forgot bogstaverne (the letters), here’s a crash course. The first pitfall: i and e. (I’ve heard…
How to say what you need Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jun 28, 2017
You’ve been travelling for a long time and all you need is a cold shower and a nice place to sleep. But – how to ask the natives? Sometimes, expressing what you need is … all you need. Jeg er sulten. (I’m hungry.) Er du sulten? (Are you hungry?) Vi er meget sultne. (We’re very…
Danish Summer Weddings Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jun 23, 2017
Mange danskere gifter sig om sommeren. (Many Danes marry in the summer.) Having recently been a guest at a Danish bryllup (wedding), I feel a bit more qualified to tell you about this tradition in Danmark. Of course, it often starts with the classical question: Vil du gifte dig med mig? (Wanna marry me?) Take…
Just do it! Giving orders in Danish Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on May 31, 2017
Bring my bag! Call the dog! Sometimes, there’s little time to be høflig (polite), and we need to give somebody a direct ordre (order). In English, we simply use the dictionary form of the verb (go! wait! shut up!) In Danish, it’s almost just as easy to make the bydeform (imperative, literally ”bidding form”). 🙂…
What’s Dangerous in Denmark? Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on May 19, 2017
Australia’s got sharks, Canada is grizzly ground, Iceland has volcanoes. But what is farlig [farlee] (dangerous) in Danmark? Lots of people enjoy a bit of spænding i tilværelsen (excitement in ”the being” = in life). If we as mennesker (humans) didn’t appreciate a good kick, I guess we wouldn’t springe ud i faldskærm (”jump out”…