vand
Water
Usage
The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing
Grammar Note
Neuter: "et vand", definite "vandet"
mad
Food
Usage
The general word when you are looking for something to eat
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "maden"; uncountable
penge
Money
Usage
Comes up when paying or changing currency
Grammar Note
Always plural; definite "pengene"
toilet
Toilet
Usage
The word alone is enough to ask for directions
Grammar Note
Neuter: definite "toilettet", plural "toiletter"
papirlommetørklæde
Tissue
Usage
For asking at a shop or a diner
Grammar Note
Neuter compound of "papir" (paper), "lomme" (pocket) and "tørklæde" (cloth)
medicin
Medicine
Usage
The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "medicinen"; a pharmacy is "et apotek"
bagage
Luggage
Usage
For checking in, picking up, or storing bags
Grammar Note
Common gender and uncountable; a suitcase is "en kuffert"
nøgle
Key
Usage
For collecting or returning it at hotel reception
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "nøglen", plural "nøgler"
billet
Ticket
Usage
The base word for transport and admission tickets
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "billetten", plural "billetter"
pas
Passport
Usage
Comes up at every check-in and border control
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "passet"; singular and plural look alike
telefon
Phone
Usage
Refers to the device and to making a call
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "telefonen"; a mobile is "en mobil"
oplader
Charger
Usage
When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "opladeren"; from "oplade" (to charge)
station
Station
Usage
The easiest landmark to name when asking directions
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "stationen"; a railway station is also "en banegård"
hospital
Hospital
Usage
The first word you need if you fall ill
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "hospitalet"; "sygehus" is a synonym
politi
Police
Usage
For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "politiet"; an individual officer is "en betjent"
butik
Shop
Usage
The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "butikken", plural "butikker"
værelse
Room
Usage
For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "værelset"; used for hotel rooms
vej
Road
Usage
Used when asking directions, often over a map
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "vejen"; a town street is "en gade"
familie
Family
Usage
Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with
Grammar Note
Common gender; definite "familien"
navn
Name
Usage
For confirming a booking or introducing yourself
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "navnet"; surname "efternavn", first name "fornavn"
hoved
Head
Usage
Point at this to show where it hurts; a headache is "hovedpine"
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "hovedet"; hair is a separate word, "hår"
øje
Eye
Usage
Point at this for eye pain, redness, or something in the eye
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "øjet"; the plural is irregular, "øjne"
tand
Tooth
Usage
Point at this for toothache; a dentist is a "tandlæge" and toothache is "tandpine"
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "tanden"; the plural mutates to "tænder"
hals
Throat
Usage
Point here for a sore throat: "Jeg har ondt i halsen". The same word also covers the front of the neck, so touch your throat while showing it
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "halsen"; the back of the neck is a separate word, "nakke"
mave
Stomach / belly
Usage
Point here for stomach pain: "Jeg har ondt i maven"
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "maven"; the word covers both the belly and the stomach organ
ryg
Back (body)
Usage
Point here for back pain: "Jeg har ondt i ryggen". The word also names the spine of a book, so touch your back while showing it
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "ryggen"
lænd
Lower back
Usage
Point here for lower-back pain: "Jeg har ondt i lænden"; the whole lumbar region is also called "lænderyggen"
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "lænden", plural "lænder"; the hip is a separate word, "hofte"
ben
Leg
Usage
Point here for pain or injury in the leg; everything below the ankle is a different word, "fod", so touch the sore spot as well
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "benet", plural also "ben". The same word also means "bone", so add "knoglebrud" when talking about a fracture
fod
Foot
Usage
Point here for pain or blisters below the ankle; Japanese "ashi" covers both leg and foot, but Danish always separates them
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "foden", plural "fødder"
hånd
Hand
Usage
Point here for pain or injury to the hand; the arm is a separate word, "arm"
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "hånden", plural "hænder"
brystkasse
Chest
Usage
Point here for chest pain or tightness; "bryst" alone can also mean breast, so "brystkasse" (ribcage) keeps it unambiguous
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "brystkassen"; a doctor may hear "Jeg har ondt i brystet", but that form can also be read as the breast
hotel
Hotel
Usage
Point to this to name a hotel as your destination; show it with your booking in a taxi
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "hotellet", with a doubled "l"
lufthavn
Airport
Usage
Point to this to say the airport; Copenhagen's is "Københavns Lufthavn", also called Kastrup
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "lufthavnen"; a compound of "luft" (air) + "havn" (harbour)
busstoppested
Bus stop
Usage
Point to this when asking where the bus stop is; the pole at the stop lists the route numbers
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "busstoppestedet"; often shortened to "stoppested"
metro
Metro
Usage
Point to this for the metro; Copenhagen is the only Danish city with one — elsewhere you use the S-tog suburban trains or regional trains
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "metroen"; stations are marked with an "M" symbol
ambassade
Embassy
Usage
Point to this when you need to reach your embassy, e.g. after losing a passport; a consulate is a "konsulat"
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "ambassaden"; "the Japanese embassy" is "den japanske ambassade"
hæveautomat
ATM
Usage
Point to this when looking for a cash machine, also called "pengeautomat"; they are thin on the ground in Denmark
Grammar Note
Common gender, definite "hæveautomaten"; a compound of "hæve" (withdraw) + "automat"
vekselkontor
Currency exchange
Usage
Point to this when looking for a currency-exchange counter; outside the airport and city centres they are rare
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "vekselkontoret"; a compound of "veksle" (to exchange) + "kontor" (office)
møntvaskeri
Laundromat
Usage
Point to this when looking for a self-service laundry; the shop sign usually just reads "Vaskeri", and payment is by card or app
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "møntvaskeriet"; a compound of "mønt" (coin) + "vaskeri" (laundry)
brandbil
Fire engine
Usage
Point to this to say a fire engine is needed; in Denmark the fire service is reached on the same emergency number, 112
Grammar Note
Common gender: definite "brandbilen", plural "brandbiler", compounding "brand" (fire) and "bil" (car). A firefighter is a "brandmand"
konsulat
Consulate
Usage
Point to this when you need your country's mission outside the capital; the embassy is a different place, "ambassade"
Grammar Note
Neuter: definite "konsulatet", plural "konsulater". A consulate-general is a "generalkonsulat" and a vice-consulate a "vicekonsulat"
More Danish phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences