Slang

1. Hej hej

   Bye bye

   Usage

   In Danish "hej" is hello, but doubled it means goodbye — a distinction that trips up every learner. Polite enough for shop staff and friends alike

2. Hvad så?

   What's up?

   Usage

   Literally "what then?" — a casual greeting to a friend, answered with "ikke så meget" (not much). For people you already know and roughly your own age; with a stranger or someone senior use "hvordan går det?"

3. Vi ses

   See you

   Usage

   Literally "we see each other". Relaxed but never rude, so it works with friends and shop staff alike

4. Det er helt fint

   That's totally fine

   Usage

   Both "don't worry about it" after an apology and a warm yes to a suggestion, softened by "helt". Safe with anyone, including people older than you

5. Slap af

   Relax

   Usage

   "Calm down" to someone flustered. It can sound patronising, so keep it to close friends and never use it with staff or anyone senior

6. Hygge sig

   To hygge / To have a cosy time

   Usage

   The verb behind Denmark's signature word. "Vi hygger os" means we're having a lovely time and "hyg dig!" is a warm parting line. Safe with anyone, and a guesthouse or café owner is always pleased to hear it

7. Fedt

   Cool / Great

   Usage

   Literally "fat", but long established as pure praise in Danish. Because it only compliments, it never offends, and works with friends and staff alike. Do not carry it into Swedish or Norwegian, where "fett" is an intensifier prefix instead

8. Træls

   Annoying / A pain

   Usage

   Originally Jutland dialect, now understood nationwide. Aim it at things and situations, not people — calling someone "træls" is a criticism. Using it delights anyone from Jutland

9. Øv!

   Aw, no!

   Usage

   The interjection for a small disappointment — missed train, forgotten umbrella. Children and adults alike use it, and it is harmless with anyone

10. Pyt

    Never mind, let it go

    Usage

    The one word for letting go of what you cannot change, and central to how Danes talk about resilience — schools even keep a "pyt-knap", a press-and-move-on button, for children. Say it about your own mishaps; aimed at someone else's trouble it can sound dismissive

11. Nemlig

    Exactly

    Usage

    A strong "yes, precisely" in agreement. Casual but not impolite, and usable at work and with people senior to you

12. Altså

    I mean… / So…

    Usage

    A filler dropped in to restate or emphasise. Ubiquitous in speech but best kept out of writing. Safe with anyone

13. Chille

    To chill

    Usage

    From English "chill" — doing nothing in particular. A younger person's word; with anyone older say "slappe af"

14. Hænge ud

    To hang out

    Usage

    A calque of English "hang out": "skal vi hænge ud i weekenden?". For peers — at work say "mødes"

15. Makker

    Mate / Partner

    Usage

    The casual word for the person you do things with. You can address a close friend your own age with it, but never a stranger or someone senior

16. Sludre

    To chat away

    Usage

    Rambling, easy conversation. Warm and usable at any age: "vi sludrede i en time" — we chatted for an hour

17. Terpe

    To cram / To swot

    Usage

    Rote learning before an exam. "Jeg terper dansk" is a perfectly good line in a self-introduction, and every student uses the word

18. Fikse

    To sort it out

    Usage

    "Jeg fikser det" — I'll handle it — is extremely common. Casual but not impolite, and fine with colleagues

19. Fyraften

    End of the working day

    Usage

    The free time after work. Danes leave on time as a matter of course, and "god fyraften!" is what you say to anyone clocking off — colleague or shop assistant

20. Janteloven

    The Law of Jante

    Usage

    The unwritten Nordic rule that you should not think yourself special, coined in a 1933 novel and the first thing a Dane reaches for when explaining the culture — sometimes critically, often self-mockingly. Fine as a topic with anyone, but pointed at someone's behaviour it is an accusation

21. Tak for sidst

    Thanks for last time

    Usage

    The Danish custom of opening a reunion by thanking someone for the last time you met — obligatory the day after being fed at someone's house. Polite and warm, so it works with friends and elders alike

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