Archive for 'Vocabulary'
Going short Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Mar 31, 2015
OMG! OK, it’s forkortelse (abbreviation) time. LOL. 🙂 BTW, YOLO, so let’s get down to it: osv. = og så videre = ”and so further” = etc.: De købte is, chokolade osv. (They bought ice-cream, chokolate etc.) m.m. = med mere = ”with more”: Der var øl m.m. (There was beer and other stuff.) m.fl. = med flere…
Snow Words Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 30, 2015
Det sner! (It’s snowing!) The last week or so, temperatures have been dropping all over Danmark. Many places finally got a bit of sne (snow). The region where I live – Midtjylland (Central Jutland) – looked like a postkort (postcard) this weekend, with people playing in the snow and even skiing! 🙂 Today there are…
Word of the Year 2014 Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 31, 2014
Every year a handful of Danish language geeks kårer årets danske ord (elect the Danish ”word of the year”). This year, Sproglaboratoriet (’The Language Lab’), a Danish radio programme, had nominated the following twelve ord: • Byhaver (’city gardens’) are small gardens that have become popular in Danish towns and cities. They may be shared…
Veries Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Oct 27, 2014
To say something is ”very something”, the ordinary Danish word to use is meget: • Du ser meget glad og tilfreds ud. You look really happy and content. • Jeg er meget overrasket! I’m very surprised! This word sounds nothing like it’s written. It’s usually pronounced [maath], somehow rhyming with the first syllable of the…
Words for Well-Wishers Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 17, 2014
Sometimes we use sproget (the language) as a trylleformular (magical formula). Når nogen nyser (when someone’s sneezing), most Danes will automatically react by saying prosit! [PROSS-it]. In some strange way the little word changes the air, making the sneezer feel better. Below are a handful of other expressions used in order to wish somebody well…
Everyday Danish Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Mar 30, 2014
How much is a Carlsberg? How do I get to Den Lille Havfrue? Language courses are often geared towards tourists and travelling. However, if you really want to speak like a native, you also need words for all the little things you do every day: Du står tidligt/sent op. (You get up early/late.) Most probably…
The little words you always need Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Feb 27, 2014
Are you listening? No matter how much grammar you studied, no matter how perfect your pronunciation is… If you don’t know how to say uh-huh in the right way, you’re lost. Why should the one who’s entertaining you keep on talking, if you don’t provide any feedback? Here are some words to help make your…