Vehicles

1. bil

   Car

   Usage

   The general word. "Jeg kører i bil" — I'm going by car. Denmark's car registration tax is famously steep, so many city households simply do without one

2. bus

   City bus

   Usage

   The city bus. A stop is a "busstoppested". Copenhagen's high-frequency routes carry an A in the number and are called "A-bus"

3. fjernbus

   Long-distance coach

   Usage

   The intercity coach, mostly linking Copenhagen with Jutland, and cheaper than the train

4. tog

   Train

   Usage

   Trains in general; a platform is a "perron" or "spor". Bridges and tunnels link the Danish islands, so the train hops from one to the next

5. S-tog

   S-train (Copenhagen suburban rail)

   Usage

   Greater Copenhagen's suburban rail, signed with a white "S" in a red hexagon, its lines named by letter — A, B, C, E, F, H. Crucially, you can take a bicycle on board for free

6. Metro

   Usage

   Copenhagen's fully driverless metro — you can stand at the very front and watch the tunnel ahead. M1 and M2 run to the airport, and the M3 Cityringen loops the main stations. It runs 24 hours. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

7. letbane

   Light rail / Tram

   Usage

   The modern trams of Aarhus and Odense. Copenhagen scrapped its trams in 1972, but the suburban Hovedstadens Letbane has since opened

8. DSB

   DSB (Danish State Railways)

   Usage

   Runs the national railway and the S-train. Buy in the DSB app, where the cheapest fares are the advance "Orange" tickets

   Grammar Note

   Short for De Danske Statsbaner

9. Øresundstoget

   Øresund train (Copenhagen–Malmö)

   Usage

   Crosses the Øresund bridge to link Copenhagen with Malmö in about 35 minutes, calling at the airport on the way — the easy way into Sweden. It is a border crossing, so carry your passport

10. Movia

    Movia (Zealand transport operator)

    Usage

    Runs the buses and some local trains across Zealand, including Copenhagen — the name on the side of the bus and on the timetable. Tickets are shared with the Metro and S-train and paid with a "Rejsekort" or the DOT app

11. taxa

    Taxi

    Usage

    Danish spells it "taxa", though "taxi" also appears. Fares are high; a lit "FRI" sign on the roof means it is free. Most people book by phone or app

12. motorcykel

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    Abbreviated "MC". Denmark is flat and easy riding, but the "cykelsti" cycle tracks are off limits — stay on the road

13. knallert

    Moped

    Usage

    A distinctly Danish word — Swedish and Norwegian both say "moped". Legal from 15, and the 30 km/h class is allowed on the cycle tracks

14. cykel

    Bicycle

    Usage

    The most important vehicle in Denmark — nearly half of Copenhagen commutes by bike on a dense network of "cykelsti" tracks. Lights are compulsory after dark and riding without them is fined

15. ladcykel

    Cargo bike

    Usage

    The three-wheeled bike with a big box in front for shopping or children — a fixture of Copenhagen family life and one of the city's defining sights. The original is the "Christianiabike" from the Christiania district

16. Bycyklen

    City bike share

    Usage

    Literally "the city bicycle" — the docked share scheme with stations around town, and the obvious choice if you only want a bike for a few hours. Several private schemes run alongside it

17. elløbehjul

    E-scooter

    Usage

    App-rented and common in the cities. You must ride on the cycle track, never the pavement, and riding drunk is punished like drink-driving. A plain kick scooter is a "løbehjul"

18. fly

    Aeroplane

    Usage

    An airport is a "lufthavn". Copenhagen Airport at Kastrup is the largest Nordic hub, with both metro and mainline trains straight into the city

19. båd

    Boat

    Usage

    Boats generally; a large ship is a "skib". Norwegian and Swedish both write it with a t, "båt"

20. færge

    Ferry

    Usage

    In a country of 400-plus islands this is everyday transport — to Bornholm, Samsø, Ærø and everywhere the bridges do not reach. Cars go on board too

21. havnebus

    Harbour bus

    Usage

    Copenhagen's public waterbus, the yellow boats running up and down the harbour. An ordinary city ticket is valid, which makes it far cheaper than a canal tour and the best-value view of the city from the water

22. ambulance

    Ambulance

    Usage

    The emergency number is 112 for ambulance, police and fire alike. For non-urgent care in the capital region, call the 1813 medical helpline. Use it with "Ring efter ambulancen!" from the Health & Hospital category

23. lejebil

    Rental car

    Usage

    Denmark is small with a dense rail network, so you may not need one. Budget for the tolls on the Great Belt and Øresund bridges, which are steep

24. delebil

    Car-share car

    Usage

    Literally "share car", and widespread in a country where owning one is expensive. The option when you need a car for a few hours

25. lastbil

    Lorry / Truck

    Usage

    In a cycling country the danger is a lorry's blind spot when it turns right — Denmark runs constant campaigns about it, so stay out of it

26. autocamper

    Motorhome

    Usage

    A towed caravan is a "campingvogn". Denmark has no Nordic-style right to roam and camp, so you must use a campsite or a designated parking area

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