Food & Drinks

1. Må jeg bede om menuen?

   May I have the menu?

   Usage

   Request a menu after being seated at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Må jeg bede om" = may I ask for; a polite request structure

2. Jeg er vegetar

   I am a vegetarian

   Usage

   Communicate vegetarian dietary requirements

   Grammar Note

   "Vegetar" is the shortened form of "vegetarian" commonly used in Danish

3. Velbekomme

   Enjoy your meal / Bon appétit

   Usage

   Said when serving or beginning a meal

   Grammar Note

   Literally "well may it benefit you"; the Danish bon appétit

4. Det smagte rigtig godt

   It tasted really good

   Usage

   Compliment the food after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Smagte" is the past tense of "smage" (to taste)

5. Jeg vil gerne have et stykke smørrebrød

   I would like to have a smørrebrød (open sandwich)

   Usage

   Order Denmark's iconic open-faced sandwich

   Grammar Note

   "Smørrebrød" = "smør" (butter) + "brød" (bread) and is neuter. A single serving is counted as "et stykke smørrebrød" (compare "et stykke wienerbrød")

6. Regningen, tak

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Request the check at the end of a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Regningen" = "regning" (bill) + definite article "-en"

7. En kop kaffe, tak

   A cup of coffee, please

   Usage

   Order a coffee at a café or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Kop" (cup) is cognate with English "cup"; same root

8. Er det allergifrit?

   Is it allergen-free?

   Usage

   Check if a dish is free of allergens

   Grammar Note

   "Frit" is the neuter form of "fri" (free/without)

9. Hvad anbefaler I?

   What do you recommend?

   Usage

   Ask staff for their recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "I" (capital) = you (plural); distinct from lowercase "i" (in)

10. Jeg er allergisk over for nødder

    I am allergic to nuts

    Usage

    Communicate food allergies to restaurant staff

    Grammar Note

    Danish uses "allergisk over for" (allergic to) + allergen

11. ris

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    Point at this to ask for rice as a side; to make "cooked" explicit, say "kogte ris"

    Grammar Note

    Common gender, definite "risen"; Danish uses the same word for raw and cooked rice

12. brød

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at this to ask for bread; the Danish staple is dark rye "rugbrød", white bread is "franskbrød", and breakfast rolls are "rundstykker"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter, definite "brødet", plural also "brød"

13. nudler

    Noodles

    Usage

    Point at this for Asian-style noodles; Italian pasta is a separate word, "pasta", and menus keep them apart

    Grammar Note

    Used in the plural (singular "en nudel"), definite "nudlerne"

14. stærk

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Point at this to ask whether a dish is hot: "Er den stærk?"; to ask for it mild, "Ikke stærk"

    Grammar Note

    An adjective, neuter "stærkt"; the same word also means "strong" (of a person or a drink), so use it while pointing at food

15. sød

    Sweet (taste)

    Usage

    Point at this to ask whether something is sweet: "Er den sød?"

    Grammar Note

    An adjective, neuter "sødt"; said of a person it means kind or cute, so always point at the food while showing it

16. rå

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Point at this to ask whether something is uncooked: "Er den rå?"; to ask for it well done, "Gennemstegt, tak"

    Grammar Note

    An adjective (neuter "råt"); applied to people it means crude, so point at the food while showing it

17. tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Use to order or check for tofu; it turns up on vegetarian menus and in supermarket chiller cabinets

    Grammar Note

    Common gender, definite "tofuen"; if you react to soy, show it together with the "soja" card

18. suppe

    Soup

    Usage

    Point at this to order soup — an easy thing to ask for when you are unwell

    Grammar Note

    Common gender, definite "suppen", plural "supper"

19. yoghurt

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Use to order or find yoghurt; Danish breakfast shelves also carry the similar soured milks "ymer" and "A38"

    Grammar Note

    Common gender, definite "yoghurten"; it is a dairy product, so it falls under the "mejeriprodukter" card

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