Jeg har brug for en læge
I need a doctor
Usage
Essential phrase for requesting medical help when ill or injured in Denmark
Grammar Note
"Har brug for" = need (idiomatic expression). Denmark's single emergency number is 112 for all emergencies
Hvor er det nærmeste hospital?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Used in emergencies to locate the nearest hospital
Grammar Note
"Hospital" = hospital in Danish. "Nærmeste" = nearest (superlative definite). Denmark's public healthcare is accessible
Jeg er allergisk over for nødder
I am allergic to nuts
Usage
Essential for informing restaurants or doctors about nut allergies
Grammar Note
"Allergisk over for" = allergic to (note "over for" not just "for"). "Nødder" = nuts (plural of "nød")
Jeg har det ikke godt
I am not feeling well
Usage
Basic phrase to express that you are feeling unwell
Grammar Note
Negative of "har det godt" (feeling well). "Hvordan har du det?" = How are you? — the standard Danish inquiry
Jeg har ondt i maven
I have a stomachache
Usage
Used to describe stomach pain to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Har ondt i + body part" is the standard Danish pain expression. "Ondt i hovedet" = headache, "ondt i halsen" = sore throat
Jeg tager disse mediciner
I am taking these medications
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or pharmacist about current medications
Grammar Note
"Disse" = these (plural demonstrative). "Mediciner" = medications (plural of "medicin"). Show the packaging if possible
Ring efter ambulancen!
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Emergency phrase to call for an ambulance — Denmark's emergency number is 112
Grammar Note
"Ring efter" = call for (summon). Different from "ring til" (call someone). Danish emergency number is 112
Har du rejseforsikring?
Do you have travel insurance?
Usage
Used when verifying travel insurance or when asked by medical staff about insurance coverage
Grammar Note
"Rejseforsikring" = rejse (travel) + forsikring (insurance). EU citizens use EHIC; others need private insurance
Jeg er gravid
I am pregnant
Usage
Important phrase for informing medical staff or in emergencies that you are pregnant
Grammar Note
"Gravid" is the formal/medical term. Colloquially: "venter et barn" (expecting a baby) or "er på vej med et barn"
Kan du hjælpe mig?
Can you help me?
Usage
Basic distress phrase to ask for help in medical situations or emergencies
Grammar Note
In "hjælpe", "hj" is pronounced like "Y". "Hjælp!" (Help!) is the single-word emergency cry to use
astma
Asthma
Usage
Point to this at a clinic or pharmacy to declare asthma; an inhaler is "inhalator"
Grammar Note
A common-gender ("en") word, definite "astmaen", but used without an article as a diagnosis: "Jeg har astma"
diabetes
Diabetes
Usage
Declares diabetes when discussing meals or insulin; older speakers also say "sukkersyge"
Grammar Note
An "en" word; in a sentence "Jeg har diabetes", with no article
forhøjet blodtryk
High blood pressure
Usage
Declares high blood pressure; this is the clinical wording, everyday speech says "højt blodtryk"
Grammar Note
"Blodtryk" is a neuter ("et") word, definite "blodtrykket"; the adjective takes the neuter -t form "forhøjet"
hjertesygdom
Heart disease
Usage
Declares a heart condition; a heart attack is a different word, "hjerteanfald"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "hjertesygdommen"; a compound of "hjerte" (heart) + "sygdom" (illness)
epilepsi
Epilepsy
Usage
Declares epilepsy; a seizure is "et anfald" or "krampeanfald"
Grammar Note
An "en" word; used without an article in "Jeg har epilepsi"
forsikring
Insurance
Usage
Used when settling medical costs; travel insurance is "rejseforsikring" and the Danish public health card is "sundhedskort"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "forsikringen"; on its own it means insurance of any kind, so "rejseforsikring" is clearer at a clinic
knoglebrud
Bone fracture
Usage
Indicates a suspected broken bone; to name the limb, Danish uses the verb: "Jeg har brækket armen"
Grammar Note
An "et" word, definite "knoglebruddet"; a compound of "knogle" (bone) + "brud" (break)
åndenød
Shortness of breath
Usage
The clinical word for breathing difficulty; as a sentence, "Jeg har åndenød"
Grammar Note
An "en" word; a compound of "ånde" (breath) + "nød" (distress). Never write "å" as plain "a"
svimmelhed
Dizziness
Usage
The noun for dizziness; in speech people normally use the adjective: "Jeg er svimmel"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "svimmelheden"; formed from the adjective "svimmel" with the suffix "-hed"
blødning
Bleeding
Usage
Indicates bleeding from a wound or internally; in medical contexts the same word also covers menstrual bleeding, so point at the wound as well
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "blødningen", from the verb "bløde"; a nosebleed is its own word, "næseblod"
forbrænding
Burn (injury)
Usage
Indicates a burn injury; the same word also means combustion or metabolism, so always point at the burnt area too
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "forbrændingen"; sunburn is a separate word, "solskoldning"
sår
Wound
Usage
Covers cuts and grazes; point at the injury while showing this card
Grammar Note
An "et" word, definite "såret", plural also "sår"; it is spelled like the adjective "sår" (sore), but as a noun it only means a wound
øre
Ear
Usage
Point here for earache or hearing trouble: "Jeg har ondt i øret"
Grammar Note
The body part is neuter: "et øre", definite "øret", plural "ører". The identically spelled common-gender "en øre" is the coin worth 1/100 krone
nakke
Neck (back of the neck)
Usage
For pain or stiffness at the back of the neck; the front of the neck and the throat are a different word, "hals"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "nakken"; "nakke" is the nape (back of the neck), while "hals" is the throat/front of the neck (and can also mean the whole neck)
skulder
Shoulder
Usage
Point here for shoulder pain or injury: "Jeg har ondt i skulderen"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "skulderen", plural "skuldre"
knæ
Knee
Usage
Point here for knee pain or injury: "Jeg har ondt i knæet"
Grammar Note
An "et" word, definite "knæet", plural also "knæ"; never rewrite "æ" as "ae"
finger
Finger
Usage
For pain or injury in a finger; a toe is a different word, "tå" (plural "tæer")
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "fingeren", plural "fingre"
hud
Skin
Usage
Used for skin problems such as rashes, eczema, or sunburn; a dermatologist is a "hudlæge"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "huden"
arm
Arm
Usage
Point here for arm pain or a fracture: "Jeg har brækket armen"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "armen", plural "arme"; the identically spelled adjective "arm" (wretched) is literary and will not be confused with the body part
næse
Nose
Usage
Point here for a blocked nose or a nosebleed; mucus is "snot" and a nosebleed is "næseblod"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "næsen", plural "næser"
hoste
Cough
Usage
Indicates a cough: "Jeg har hoste"; cough syrup is "hostesaft"
Grammar Note
As a noun it is an "en" word, definite "hosten"; the same form is also the infinitive verb "to cough", but on a card it reads as the symptom
kløe
Itching
Usage
Point at the itchy spot while showing this: "Jeg har kløe"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "kløen"; the verb is "at klø" (to itch / to scratch)
udslæt
Rash
Usage
Indicates a skin rash, including an allergic reaction; point at the affected area
Grammar Note
An "et" word, definite "udslættet"
forstoppelse
Constipation
Usage
Declares constipation; diarrhoea is a different word, "diarré"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "forstoppelsen"; as a sentence, "Jeg har forstoppelse"
menstruation
Menstruation (period)
Usage
Used at a clinic or pharmacy to say you are on your period; Danish uses the plain word rather than a euphemism. Pads are "bind" and tampons are "tamponer"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "menstruationen"; in a sentence "Jeg har menstruation", with no article
blodtype
Blood type
Usage
Show this to state or ask a blood type where a transfusion may be needed; the groups are A, B, AB and 0 ("nul")
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "blodtypen", plural "blodtyper", compounding "blod" (blood) and "type"
lægeerklæring
Medical certificate
Usage
Show this to ask a doctor for a written certificate for an insurance claim or for your employer
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "lægeerklæringen", plural "lægeerklæringer", compounding "læge" (doctor) and "erklæring" (declaration); "lægeattest" means the same
indlæggelse
Hospital admission
Usage
Show this to check whether you need to be admitted; "admission to hospital" is "indlæggelse på hospital"
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "indlæggelsen", plural "indlæggelser"; the verb is "at indlægge" and the patient side is "at blive indlagt". The formal synonym is "hospitalisering"
kulderystelser
Chills
Usage
Names shivering and feeling cold when you are not cold; as a symptom accompanying fever it is said in this plural form
Grammar Note
The plural of a compound of "kulde" (cold) and "rystelse" (a shaking, from "at ryste"); definite "kulderystelserne". As a symptom the plural is the usual form rather than the singular "kulderystelse"
forkølelse
Common cold
Usage
Show this for an ordinary cold — sore throat, runny nose, cough; "I have a cold" is "Jeg er forkølet"
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "forkølelsen", plural "forkølelser", a noun derived from the verb "at forkøle". Influenza is a different word, "influenza"
Tilkald en læge!
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask a bystander to call a doctor when someone has been taken ill
Grammar Note
The thing summoned stays indefinite because no particular doctor is meant. "læge" is common gender: definite "lægen", plural "læger"
Det gør ondt her
It hurts here
Usage
Point at the painful spot while showing this to the doctor
Grammar Note
"gøre ondt" is a set expression taking the impersonal "det" as subject
Jeg føler mig slap
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Show this to a doctor to describe the heavy, strengthless feeling that comes with fever or illness
Grammar Note
"føle sig" is reflexive and takes "mig / dig / sig" according to the subject. Used of a person, "slap" has the sense "uden kraft og styrke" (without force or strength): neuter "slapt", plural and definite "slappe"
Jeg har kastet op flere gange
I have vomited several times
Usage
Show this to a doctor to report that you have been vomiting repeatedly
Grammar Note
"kaste op" is the phrasal verb for bringing the stomach contents up through the mouth; the perfect is "har kastet op". The plural of "gang" (time, occasion) is "gange"
Har jeg brug for hvile?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Show this after an examination to ask the doctor whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
A yes/no question with the verb fronted. "hvile" is a common gender noun meaning the act of resting or sleeping, and takes no article in this frame
diarré
Diarrhea
Usage
Declares diarrhoea; constipation is a different word, "forstoppelse"
Grammar Note
"diarré" is a common-gender noun (en diarré). It is a medical term from French
bæ
Poop
Usage
The word for poop when talking to children (a childish word). To a doctor, the neutral word is "afføring" (stool)
Grammar Note
"bæ" is a common-gender noun (definite "bæen"). It is a soft child-friendly word, separate from the vulgar "lort" (shit)
tis
Pee
Usage
The informal word for pee; the verb is "tisse". Avoid the vulgar "pis". At a clinic, urine is "urin"
Grammar Note
"tis" is a neuter, uncountable noun (et tis), a back-formation from the verb "tisse", itself a softened form of the vulgar "pisse"
Jeg har diarré
I have diarrhea
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
The "Jeg har + symptom" pattern, with no article. Word order is subject, verb, object
Jeg har forstoppelse
I'm constipated
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
The "Jeg har + symptom" pattern. "forstoppelse" is a common-gender noun (en forstoppelse) and takes no article as a symptom name
Jeg skal tisse
I need to pee
Usage
A casual way to tell a companion or a child that you need to pee. A more polite version is "Jeg skal på toilettet" (I need to go to the toilet)
Grammar Note
"skal + infinitive" expresses "have to / be going to", here the bodily "need to go". The infinitive drops "at" after the auxiliary. "tisse" belongs with "tis"
Jeg skal lave bæ
I need to poop
Usage
A childish-leaning way to tell a child or a close companion that you need to poop; with other adults "Jeg skal på toilettet" is safer
Grammar Note
The "Jeg skal + infinitive" pattern. There is no verb for it, so "lave" (to make) takes the noun "bæ"
More Danish phrases
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