Dreaming of traveling through picturesque Denmark, breezily ordering smørrebrød, and making friends with locals? Or perhaps you’re hooked on gritty Danish TV shows and want to understand what that glowering detective is really saying.
Regardless of why you want to learn Danish, you’re in for a fun and rewarding experience. It won’t take long until you’re humming along with Danish music, coming out with those ironic jokes the Danes are famous for, and making (virtual or real-life) Danish-speaking friends.
Do you already know what to expect when learning Danish and just want to dive into our reviews and recommendations? Take a look at the posts below:
Discover effective strategies for learning Danish online. Explore grammar, vocabulary, resources, and tips, and find answers to your FAQs here.
Table of Contents
We’ll also talk about how to create your Danish study schedule and whether Danish is really as difficult as it sounds.
A Quick Introduction to the Danish Language
Love history? Adventurous epics? The Vikings? You’ll love studying Danish. The oldest written examples of it in existence are runic inscriptions. It’s also the closest existing language to Old Scandinavian, the language of the Vikings.
Even today, there’s some degree of mutual intelligibility between Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish (although this can be overstated). This is in part thanks to the powerful fourteenth-century Queen Margaret I of Denmark. She defied gender-based norms for her period to unite most of Scandinavia – although she then had to make herself regent and appoint her male relatives as rulers. After all, it was the Middle Ages.
Danish also boasts some fascinating linguistic features. For example, while it has two grammatical genders, these are called common and neuter. This might come as a relief to language learners exasperated by the idea that a screwdriver is inherently masculine or feminine.
You also count in twenties rather than tens in Danish, something that might sound familiar to speakers of French, Basque, Cornish, and Yoruba. If it seems confusing to you, however, just think of the archaic method of counting in scores, with “three score and ten” adding up to 70. Voilà, you have the vigesimal counting system used in Danish.
Today, Danish is spoken by over 5 million people throughout not only Denmark, but also parts of northern Germany, Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. And that’s not to mention Danish diaspora communities around the globe.
Although you might assume that everyone speaks Danish in Denmark, don’t be surprised if you also overhear Polish, Syrian, or Turkish. Despite tightening immigration policies, people from all over the world live in Denmark.
Oh, and expect to hear quite a bit of English, too. Danes are impressively good at speaking it.
Why Learning Danish is Your Next Great Cultural Adventure
Danish is one of those languages that instantly sparks curiosity. Spoken by over 5.5 million people, primarily in Denmark, it’s not just a way to communicate—it’s a ticket to understanding a culture deeply rooted in hygge (coziness), innovative design, and a progressive way of life. Plus, it opens doors to the broader Scandinavian world, as Danish is closely related to both Swedish and Norwegian.
For someone who loves history, languages, and food, Danish feels like a delightful puzzle to unravel. It’s about connecting with a community that values happiness and simplicity while savoring the nuances of a language that’s as charming as it is practical. Sure, the pronunciation can feel like navigating a Danish pastry at first—but every step is a win when you can confidently say “Hej!” (Hello) or “Tak!” (Thank you).
6 Fascinating Facts About Danish
- A Bridge to Scandinavian Languages
Danish is so closely related to Swedish and Norwegian that learning it gives you a leg up on all three. Many Scandinavians understand each other’s languages with ease—it’s like unlocking a trifecta of linguistic adventures. - Unique Pronunciation
Famous for its soft, slurred tones, Danish has been humorously dubbed the “language with a potato in the mouth.” Once you get the hang of its rhythm and melodic flow, though, it’s incredibly rewarding. - Hygge and More
Danish culture is synonymous with hygge, that cozy feeling of contentment. Learning Danish gives you a deeper understanding of the words and concepts that define this lifestyle. - Rich History and Literature
From Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales to modern thrillers, Danish literature is a treasure trove. Reading these works in their original language adds depth and authenticity to the experience. - Small Country, Big Impact
Despite its size, Denmark is a global powerhouse in design, sustainability, and innovation. Speaking Danish connects you to a culture that excels in creativity and progress. - A Language of Practicality and Charm
Danish grammar is refreshingly straightforward. With no noun cases or complex verb conjugations, it’s an approachable and practical choice for learners.
How Danish Differs from Other European Languages
Danish shares a lot with its Scandinavian neighbors but has distinct characteristics that set it apart:
- Pronunciation: Danish pronunciation can be challenging because of its soft, slurred sounds. Compared to Swedish’s sing-song quality or Norwegian’s clearer enunciation, Danish feels more muted but no less charming.
- Grammar: Danish grammar is simpler than German or French, with no cases or gendered articles to learn. It’s an inviting language for beginners.
- Vocabulary: Many Danish words are similar to English, thanks to shared Germanic roots. For instance, kat (cat) and hus (house) will feel familiar to English speakers.
- Culture: Danish is deeply tied to the unique cultural concepts of Denmark, such as hygge and fællesskab (community). Learning the language gives you a deeper connection to these ideas.
- Script and Alphabet: Danish uses the Latin alphabet but includes three additional letters: æ, ø, and å, which make it stand out from English and other European languages.
How to Learn Danish
The Danish Alphabet
Source: Omniglot.com
What Makes It Unique:
- Æ (æ): Sounds like the “a” in “cat.”
- Ø (ø): A rounded vowel, similar to the “i” in “bird” (British English).
- Å (å): Pronounced like the “o” in “born.”
Note:
- Vowels: Danish vowels can be long or short, affecting their sound. For example, “A” is “ah” when long (as in “far” = father), but shorter like “cat” before multiple consonants (as in “kat” = cat). Æ, Ø, and Å have no direct English equivalents—Æ is like the “a” in “cat,” Ø resembles the “u” in “hurt” with rounded lips, and Å sounds like “o” in “core.”
- Consonants: Many are similar to English, but “R” is guttural (uvular, from the throat) unlike English’s alveolar “r.” “D” softens after vowels or between them (e.g., “mad” = food, sounds like “mahth”). “G” often weakens or disappears after vowels (e.g., “dag” = day, sounds like “day” with a soft or silent “g”).
- Extras: C, Q, W, X, and Z appear mostly in loanwords and names, not native Danish words. W is pronounced like V.
Basic Danish Phrases for Beginners
Here are some essential Danish phrases to kickstart your journey:
- Hej! – Hello
- Hvordan har du det? – How are you?
- Tak – Thank you
- Undskyld – Excuse me / Sorry
- Ja / Nej – Yes / No
- Hvad hedder du? – What’s your name?
- Jeg hedder… – My name is…
- Hvor er toilettet? – Where is the restroom?
- Vi ses! – See you!
Danish Numbers
Here’s a table of Danish numbers from 0 to 10:
| English Number | Danish Number | Pronunciation (Transliteration) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | nul | “nool” |
| 1 | en | “ayn” (like “pain” without “p”) |
| 2 | to | “toh” |
| 3 | tre | “tray” |
| 4 | fire | “fee-uh” |
| 5 | fem | “fem” |
| 6 | seks | “sex” (like English “six”) |
| 7 | syv | “sue” (like “sue” with “v”) |
| 8 | otte | “ot-uh” |
| 9 | ni | “nee” |
| 10 | ti | “tee” |
Note:
- Pronunciation: The “r” is guttural, and many endings soften—e.g., “tre” sounds like “tray” but with a throatier “r.” The “d” in “tredive” or “hundrede” often fades to a soft “th” or drops.
- Gender: “En” (1) changes to “et” before neuter nouns (e.g., “et hus” = one house), but this table uses the common form.
Learning Danish Study Plan
We can’t give you a one-size-fits-all Danish study plan, because there are so many factors to consider: where you live, what you want to do with your Danish language skills, how you like to study, how much spare time you have…
However, what we can do is give you some advice for building a study schedule and choosing the right resources for you, so that your Danish studies are more fun, interesting, and effective.
Outline Your Goals
Knowing what you want to achieve won’t just keep you on track. It will also help you decide what to study.
Just traveling through the country? You’ll want to spend extra time on topics like directions, hotels, and numbers.
Want to keep in touch with a Danish exchange student via social media? Reading and writing will be important for you, and you can probably skip the business jargon in favor of slang and hobby-based topics.
Moving to Denmark? You’re going to have a longer list of topics to learn. Don’t forget to study immigration-related vocabulary! On the plus side, your trial-by-fire experience of living in the country will give you lots of opportunities to practice speaking Danish.
Regardless of your individual goals, you’ll probably want to build in time for all the main language skills – reading, writing, listening, and speaking – as well as vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Let’s be honest: it would be frustrating if, after six months of messaging a friend in Danish, they suddenly rang you and you couldn’t understand a word they said.
Decide How Often and How Long You’ll Study For
You’ll come across blog posts saying that you should study for an hour, 90 minutes, or even three hours a day. That’s not always realistic, though.
Some people have a relatively free schedule and can easily make time for studying. Others have to fit Danish studies in between different jobs, studying, social and family obligations, and more. So, forget the “golden rules” about how many minutes or hours a day you should spend studying.
It might sound counterintuitive but don’t study too much. By too much, we mean: don’t study so much that you exhaust yourself, feel guilty about being too busy to practice Danish, or start to resent the time spent drilling vocabulary. Be realistic about how much spare time you have.
That said, it’s good to study more days than you don’t. If you’re struggling to find time for Danish, aim to study for shorter periods but more frequently. It will be more effective than one long, weekly study session, especially if your aim is spoken or written fluency.
Decide on Your Study Materials and Resources
In this article, we’ll share dozens of Danish courses, apps, textbooks, grammar guides, YouTube channels, podcasts, movies, novels, news sites, and more. You might also like to:
- Keep a journal, write short stories, or start a Danish-language blog
- Create an audio diary: record yourself speaking about your day (and remember that nobody has to listen to it – not even you)
- Follow influencers and Danish-language hashtags (and not just #hygge) on social media
- Set your search engine, phone, and social media accounts to Danish
- Find forums, Facebook groups, and hobby-based blogs in Danish
- Take an interest in Danish history, politics, and culture; you’ll soon find yourself reading Danish-language websites and books to find out more than would be possible in English
- Label things in your flat or house with Danish words
- Start doing Danish crosswords
- Write your shopping or to-do list in Danish
- Try to create Danish puns and rhymes
Bear in mind that someone else’s ideal study method might not work for you. Maybe they love Duolingo and you hate it. Or perhaps they love watching movies and you get bored 20 minutes in. We all have our preferred study methods (and interests!), so try a few things out to see what works best for you.
And remember: the best resources for you could change over time. You might eventually need to drop your once-favorite course, or perhaps you’ll find you get on better with a resource once you’ve reached a conversational level of Danish.
Some Extra Danish Study Tips
- Learn Fillers: Since most Danes have a high level of English, you might find one of your biggest challenges is getting people to speak Danish with you. While they think they’re doing you a favor by switching to English, you should try to talk in Danish as frequently as possible. To subtly signal that you don’t need them to change languages, try brushing up on Danish fillers. They will help you exude linguistic confidence, even while you’re searching for the right word.
- Do Pronunciation Drills: Given how tricky Danish pronunciation can be, it’s worth spending some time on this. Even though you don’t need a perfect Danish accent, learning correct pronunciation early on will save you time later and perhaps help convince Danes that you don’t need them to switch to English.
- Be Patient and Celebrate Successes: Learning a language is hard and takes time. Instead of fixating on what you can’t do, focus on your successes – whether that’s successfully purchasing a train ticket, having an hour-long conversation in Danish, or navigating the Danish healthcare system.
Challenges of Learning Danish
While Danish is an inviting language, it comes with a few quirks:
- Pronunciation: The soft, slurred sounds can be tricky to master, but immersion and practice help.
- Unique Vowels: Mastering vowels like æ, ø, and å can take time but makes the language feel special.
- Listening Skills: Danes often speak quickly and blend words together, which can be challenging for beginners to follow.
- Limited Resources: Danish learning materials aren’t as abundant as those for more widely spoken languages, so creativity in finding practice opportunities is key.
Danish Language Resources
Danish Apps
Ling
Ling is a gamified language-learning app with courses on over 60 different languages. Practice happens through short themed lessons, making for convenient and entertaining study time. It isn’t the most comprehensive resource out there, especially for more popular languages, but it can make a decent way to get started with a less common language.
See our Super-Detailed Ling Review
Drops App
Drops is a phone app for iPhone and Android that covers 50 languages. Daily games test the user on thousands of vocabulary words, and many of these words are ideal for everyday use. Drops has an entertaining, user-friendly interface, but it also lacks grammar lessons, and it works better for some languages than others. For anyone looking to supplement their vocab lessons, this app is worth considering; however, the free version might be more worthwhile than the paid version.
See our Super-Detailed Drops App Review
Clozemaster
Ideal for people who are already at an upper beginner/intermediate level, Clozemaster will help you build your vocabulary and learn new words and sentences in context. While you won’t learn much grammar or improve your speaking and writing much, it is great at what it does and the videogame aspect makes it fun and addictive to work though. Although the exercises are all pretty much identical, there are various ways in which you can increase the difficulty and Clozemaster’s free account is almost as good as the Pro User one.
See our Super-Detailed Clozemaster Review
Memrise
Memrise is a super popular language-learning app available online and on mobile. It functions much like a gamified flashcard app, and it offers a lot of content for free. A lot of the content is user-created, and there is a premium subscription that provides access to additional features. Memrise can be a great tool in your arsenal, but you’ll need more to learn a language seriously.
See our Super-Detailed Memrise Review
LingQ
LingQ is a language-learning platform that focuses on extensive reading for over 30 different languages. You can import your own content or choose from the community library of books, articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, and more.
The app highlights unknown words across every lesson and makes them reviewable via different types of SRS flashcards. The more you read, the more accurately you will be able to identify content that is suitable for your level.
Although I did not find it beneficial for languages I had never studied before, I think LingQ can be helpful for upper-beginner to advanced language learners who enjoy reading. It is especially helpful if you struggle to find graded readers in your target language.
See our Super-Detailed LingQ Review
Anki
It is the go-to app for free (except on iOS) Spaced Repetition System (SRS) flashcards. It has a simple user interface with various features that more hard-core users can dive into if they choose. Your flashcards will appear according to your natural forgetting curve; the app will test you in increasingly spaced out intervals, with more difficult cards appearing more than once in a session, while easier cards spacing out over weeks — or even months and years. An SRS system is the most effective way to drive information into your long-term memory. The cards can sync between the web, desktop app, and mobile versions to keep your flashcards updated and with you at all times.
See our Super-Detailed Anki Review
Babbel
Babbel is an online language-learning platform with over 1 million active users. It’s available on the web, for iOS, and for Android. The app aims to get learners to a conversational level as quickly as possible through the use of a variety of exercises and spaced repetition for review. The courses are well put together and relatively inexpensive; there are 14 different languages available.
See our Super-Detailed Babbel Review
Loecsen
Loecsen is a web based platform designed to make learning languages feel natural by offering immersive, bite-sized language courses that anyone can master. There are over 40 languages to learn including Arabic, English, French among others. It started out as an essential conversation guide for short stays abroad, but soon evolved to offer more comprehensive language courses. Loecsen’s strengths are its nice visual aids to stimulate interest and encourage revision. It also uses clear, high-quality audio recordings and a voice recognition feature to help you practice and improve your pronunciation skills. By combining visual aids with clear audio pronunciation, Loecsen encourages you pick up the language naturally, just as you would through interaction with native speakers.
See our Super-Detailed Loecsen Review
Brainscape
Brainscape is a flashcard app that uses a Spaced Repetition System, also often referred to as ‘adaptive flashcards’, to help you memorize new vocabulary and facts. It has a team of scientists, engineers, and education experts working to optimize their program for effective learning. Brainscape is quite similar to Anki, but has a more modern and colourful interface. They also have Certified Classes, which are decks that seem to have been developed by experts in the chosen topic. The app adds what they call Intelligent Cumulative Exposure (ICE) to some of their Certified Classes; it seems to combine a Spaced Repetition System with gradually introducing new concepts, increasing the difficulty of the concepts, and providing context so you can build your own sentences. It has several Certified Classes for various languages (and other topics), and many more decks created by users. Unlike Anki, edits that creators make to user decks seem to sync up even after you have downloaded the deck. With the free version, you have limited access to premium decks but unlimited access to user-made decks.
See our Super-Detailed Brainscape Review
uTalk
uTalk is a software program and mobile app offering learning material in over 140 languages. Its approach is based on learning keywords and phrases through gameplay. It covers a wide range of phrases, each spoken by a female and male native speaker, consequently offering listening and pronunciation practice. uTalk is most useful for beginners who want to get started in a language by learning key phrases. It could also be useful for intermediates looking to fill gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation, but it does not offer any in-depth language instruction or grammar explanations. It’s also worth mentioning that for some languages, such as Basque, the occasional overly literal translation leads to small errors and unnatural phrasing creeping in. However, we haven’t seen instances in which this would result in you being misunderstood, and there’s no denying uTalk’s value for languages with fewer learning resources.
See our Super-Detailed uTalk Review
Danish Course
Preply
Preply is an online educational platform that matches tutors with students. There are tutors on Preply offering instruction in a wide range of languages and other subjects. As a learner, you can find a tutor that works best for you by browsing their demo videos and filtering by price and rating. Each tutor’s teaching style is their own, but they all receive teacher trainings and resources to improve their style.
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See our Super-Detailed Preply Review
italki
italki is the most flexible and affordable place to find a tutor for the language you’re learning. They have a huge number of teachers offering classes to students of over 100 different languages. As a learner, you’ll be able to find a tutor that best fits your learning style, schedule, and personality. Teachers are able to set their own prices and make their own schedule.
See our Super-Detailed italki Review
Pimsleur
Pimsleur is one of the most popular and longest-standing resources out there for learning a foreign language. Its courses place a strong emphasis on aural and verbal communication skills, paying less attention to grammar explanations and reading or writing skills. There are over 50 language courses available with Pimsleur, and the bulk of the material is taught with audio lessons.
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See our Super-Detailed Pimsleur Review
DanishClass101
DanishClass101 offers audio and video lessons (though they’re mostly audio) for learning Danish. They’re similar to a podcast with two hosts teaching the language with the help of natural dialogues. They take the time to explain key grammar points, vocabulary, interesting cultural information, and so on. Their tends to be more content for beginners and the lesson structure could be improved. As such, it’s better as a supplementary tool for improving your Danish, rather than a standalone course.
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See our Super-Detailed DanishClass101 Review
Memrise
Memrise is a super popular language-learning app available online and on mobile. It functions much like a gamified flashcard app, and it offers a lot of content for free. A lot of the content is user-created, and there is a premium subscription that provides access to additional features. Memrise can be a great tool in your arsenal, but you’ll need more to learn a language seriously.
See our Super-Detailed Memrise Review
Verbling
Verbling is an online language-class marketplace where you can take lessons with teachers of your choice. It has some student-friendly extra features, including a built-in online classroom, flashcards, homework calendar, and a filing system for lesson materials. There are also useful but disorganized forums where you can discuss languages, share writing for critique, and do free language drills and exercises.
The lessons are generally high quality and well structured, plus the filters make it easy to find teachers who specialize in everything from accent reduction to interview preparation.
However, it can be slightly pricier than alternatives, so if you’re on a tight budget, you may want to look elsewhere. It also has fewer languages than some of the bigger competitors, so it might not be a good choice if you want to study Azerbaijani, Khmer, or Yoruba.
See our Super-Detailed Verbling Review
Glossika
Glossika has learning resources for over fifty languages that impressively range from Armenian and Czech to Icelandic and Tagalog. While not suitable for absolute beginners, lower intermediates could use the resource to familiarise themselves with sentences in their language of choice using Glossika´s intuitive approach. Listening to native speakers and repeating what they say can help learners to improve their comprehension skills and spoken fluency. While it is amazing that so many languages are included, learners would have to use numerous other resources alongside it. The cost is unjustifiably high.
See our Super-Detailed Glossika Review
Duolingo
Duolingo is a super popular free language-learning app. It’s available for desktop as well as mobile and offers over 90 different language courses in over 20 different languages — there are currently 35 languages with English instruction. The Duolingo approach is gamified and easy to use, but the bite-sized lessons don’t offer much in the way of in-depth practice. The Duolingo tag line is “Learn a language in just five minutes a day.”
See our Super-Detailed Duolingo Review
Mondly
Mondly is a language-learning app that teaches basic vocabulary and grammar structures. It seems most appropriate for learners with little to no exposure to their target language.
The activities mostly rely on passive recognition of vocabulary and phrases, and therefore are not very challenging. However, they are varied enough that you probably wouldn’t get bored with short, daily practice sessions.
Although I wouldn’t recommend Mondly to anyone looking to seriously learn a language, it may be appropriate for individuals studying languages with less available resources, or for individuals who are preparing to travel abroad.
See our Super-Detailed Mondly Review
Sundhedsdansk
There are some things so important, and with so much material, that they almost deserve their very own language course. Take, for example, going to the doctor’s or understanding your child’s illness. That’s where the online, introductory course Sundhedsdansk comes in. While we think this is a fantastic idea, there are some issues with the course. Since it only uses Danish, it can be challenging to work out exactly what the new language means. Pictures and videos help you out, but even so, we frequently had to turn to Google Translate. Moreover, we were unconvinced by the choice of – at times astonishingly simple or tangential – vocabulary. For example, in the lesson on “infections,” we wonder if vocabulary such as “door handle,” “hug,” and “pencil” could have been replaced with words like “bronchitis,” “antibiotics,” and “wet cough.” We also felt that the course would have benefited from vocabulary on additional topics, such as “broken bone,” “lump,” and “take the pills twice a day.” In fact, this course at times seems more concerned with teaching immigrants basic hygiene than how to communicate with a medical professional. While there are some useful phrases, expect to still feel quite confused when you visit the doctor’s – especially if they give you instructions about medicine, self-care, or medical procedures.
See our Super-Detailed Sundhedsdansk Review
Dansk Her&Nu
Dansk Her&Nu, also known as Dansk her og nu and Danish Here & Now, is a free online beginner-level Danish course developed with support from the Danish government. The only catch is that it’s all in Danish. If you’re a complete beginner, you’ll probably struggle without the support of a teacher. Lesson one dives straight in with three relatively long texts, each 7–10 sentences long, and then questions you, in Danish, about whether you believe Danish people greet each other politely or kiss too little. However, if you’ve already got a little Danish knowledge, or you can work through it with a friend or teacher, it seems like it could be a good supplementary resource. There’s plenty of audio recordings and vocabulary, plus some clear grammar explanations, exercises, and cultural information.
See our Super-Detailed Dansk Her&Nu Review
Vores Fællessprog
Looking for something that will help you understand Danish grammar? Try Vores Fællessprog, which will break down word order, verbs, conjunctions and more in 11 different languages. You can also drill your understanding by pressing some of the buttons at the bottom of each screen. While they’re not overly intuitive, they’ll load up quizzes in a pop-up window. Our biggest gripe with Vores Fællessprog is also our favorite thing about it: it’s simple and easy to understand. The explanations are clear. Unfortunately, this is partly because it’s quite superficial. If you find you need something more in-depth, try Basby instead.
See our Super-Detailed Vores Fællessprog Review
The Danish Study
The Danish Study is a well-designed website that makes practicing verb conjugations, basic vocabulary, and numbers a little bit more engaging. While it’s a well-thought-out tool, we’re not convinced the vocabulary and numbers features are worth paying for – not when you can download and use something like Drops for free. The verb conjugations tool, on the other hand, is pretty useful. You can drill them separately or in phrases, as well as testing your memory of their conjugation, spelling, and meaning.
See our Super-Detailed The Danish Study Review
Speakdanish
Speakdanish is a pronunciation- and communication-focused course where grammar takes a back seat – although the grammar explanations are still clear and pretty thorough. Each of the 20 classes begins with a dialogue, along with the stern reminder “Remember everything you learn. You will be tested on it later.” The conversation is then translated phrase by phrase. In many cases, additional grammar or contextual explanations are given, such as “Professions don’t get an article (a teacher)” or “Many names of British towns are derived from by (town).” It’s worth mentioning, though, that the explanation’s usefulness can be slightly limited at times: while you might understand that you don’t put an article in front of “teacher,” you still won’t know how to say “teacher” or what the Danish articles are. You’re then introduced to additional materials, which may include grammar breakdowns and word lists. In the first lesson, for example, there’s a word list, additional phrase list, and a pronunciation guide for the hard, soft and silent d. Finally, you get to the tests, in which you either type what you hear or translate sentences into Danish. Our initial impression is that Speakdanish is thorough and excellent for pronunciation and listening, yet it could be hard work. The tests take us back to school exams, the material is extensive and can seem overwhelming, and you’re left to drill lots of information on your own. We recommend going slowly and pairing it with plenty of other learning materials.
See our Super-Detailed Speakdanish Review
Udemy
Udemy has Danish courses from diverse instructors. The courses range from about 40 minutes and some can be several hours long, so you can choose the format and instructor that works for you. Most courses come with downloadable study guides and other materials—and you get lifetime access once you buy the lesson. The audio is great since these are video-based lessons. Still, if you want to focus on writing, you’ll have to search around for courses with additional materials/homework.
Additional Danish Learning Resources
Danish lessons, courses and apps all are great as main resources for learning. However, it is smart to have access to supplemetary learning resources as well. Improve your Danish language skills with different types of written resources.
Danish Textbooks and Reference Books
A textbook can give structure to your studies and will normally include plenty of exercises. Whether you study alone or with a teacher, it can also help you measure your progress and stay motivated. We would recommend getting some additional speaking practice, however, and it’s worth bearing in mind that most textbooks teach slightly formal language.
If you like a lot of exercises, might be a good starting place for you. The audio files are available from their website.
is another decent option if you’re just looking to learn the basics. Don’t forget to download the audio recordings.
Despite its name, can be a bit challenging if you’re starting from zero. This might be a better option if you’ve been studying Danish for a little while, perhaps with apps and podcasts, and are now looking for something to give you structure.
For upper beginner and intermediate students, is a highly praised textbook with plenty of exercises.
The Ultimate Danish Phrasebook is designed to teach you more natural Danish than most phrasebooks, with lines like “it was fashionable when my mother was young” and “let’s take it easy.” Whether you find it useful or a gimmick will likely depend on your level of Danish.
Danish Fiction Books and Poetry
What’s the first Danish author you can think of? If you said anyone other than Hans Christian Andersen, we’re impressed. Yet while (The Little Mermaid) isn’t a bad choice for your first book, there’s plenty more to Danish literature than this sad little love story.
You can legally download free children’s books in Danish from Children’s Books Forever. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something accessible yet still designed for adults, try bilingual readers.
contains literal word-by-word translations of six different stories. The authors have also published Learn Danish with Beginner Stories, , and .
is a slicker option than Interlinear Books. You won’t get the literal word-by-word translation, but rather a short story, summary (in Danish), word list, and set of comprehension-based questions.
Ready to challenge yourself with books designed for fluent, adult speakers?
Fans of Nordic noir and detective novels will probably like Jussi Adler-Olsen. Plus, you’ll find reading his novels gives you a good conversation-starter – he was voted “Favorite Author of the Danes” three years running, after all.
For a more literary (and slightly spooky) novel, try Celestine by Olga Ravn. This unsettling novel about a woman obsessed with a ghost has been praised for its beautiful metaphors and language.
Jakob Ejersbo is considered one of Denmark’s modern literary giants, known for his gritty and realistic novels. Try Eksil, which explores the relation between European expats and locals in Tanzania, or Nordkraft.
If you’d like something a little more escapist, it’s worth giving the historical novel Vi, de druknede by Carsten Jensen a read.
Other Media Resources to Help You Learn Danish
If you’re interested in authentic content to help you learn Danish, then TV, movies, news and music are great ways to learn Danish while staying informed and entertained.
Danish TV and Movies
From natural phrasing to Danish culture, there’s a lot you can pick up from watching a TV show or movie. Plus, it will simultaneously challenge your listening skills and give you a chance to unwind.
You can watch Danish-language TV shows via DR or, of course, Netflix. If you’re using Netflix, try combining it with the Chrome plugin Language Learning With Netflix. It gives you greater control over the subtitles, which we think is particularly helpful when you’re ready for Danish-language ones.
If you’re a fan of the crime genre, try Broen or Forbrydelsen. The political drama Borgen has great characterization and a gripping plot. Applaus explores an actress’ relationship with addiction and her children. Looking for something more lighthearted? Watch the romantic comedy Italiensk for begyndere.
News and Music
Listening to Danish-language music will get you spending more time immersed in Danish and introduce you to additional vocabulary. Plus, whether you’re into electronic music or metal, you’ll find something you like in Denmark’s eclectic music scene.
The quickest way to find artists you’ll like is probably to listen to playlists. Try this Danish Hits playlist on Spotify. Alternatively, search for a genre-specific one, such as Danish Rap or The Sounds of Danish Pop.
Reading the news in Danish will also get you learning new vocabulary. Perhaps even more importantly, it will help you make small talk, stay up to date on current affairs in Denmark, and understand how new policies affect you.
DR Ligetil intentionally uses easy-to-understand Danish, so it’s a great place to start. As you become more confident with Danish, you can then try other news sites, such as Berlingske, Ekstra Bladet, Politiken, BT, News, and SN. You can also listen to Danish radio.
When you come across new words, look them up in a dictionary like Den Danske Ordbog. And, to make sure you’re pronouncing them right, use Forvo or Adgang for alle.
Danish might sound challenging. The pronunciation can seem incomprehensible. And the lack of Danish learning resources could be off-putting. Yet once you get started learning Danish, you’ll discover that not only are there many opportunities to practice it, but it’s a surprisingly rewarding language to learn.
Nothing beats the feeling of making a new Danish-speaking friend, reading a Danish-language book, or making Danes laugh with your witty jokes for the very first time.
Why Learning Danish is Worth It
For me, learning Danish is about more than just picking up a new skill—it’s about connecting with a culture that values happiness, simplicity, and togetherness. Whether it’s chatting with a friend over coffee, reading Hans Christian Andersen in Danish, or just enjoying the pride of mastering a challenging pronunciation, every step feels meaningful.
If you’re curious about languages that open doors to culture, community, and a sense of adventure, Danish is an excellent choice. It’s more than a language—it’s a way to embrace the cozy, connected world of Denmark and beyond. So why not take the plunge and say “Hej!” to Danish today?
Held og lykke! Best of luck.
FAQs
How to speak Danish?
To speak Danish, tackle its tricky sounds with lots of listening practice and repetition—train your ear and tongue. Listen a lot and mimic, then hop on Tandem or HelloSpeak to chat with partners who’ll help your pronunciation.
How long does it take to learn Danish?
Danish takes about 600 hours for English speakers to get fluent—great news since for English speakers, it’s easier than most! Stick to an hour-a-day study, and in roughly 1.5 years, you’ll be chatting with confidence.
Is Danish easy to learn?
Danish is pretty easy for English speakers, taking about 600 hours to learn—way less than tougher languages. Pronunciation is the hurdle with its mushy vowels, but the good news is that you can find many tools to help, including fun options like listening to Danish music or watching Danish TV shows.
What is the easiest way to learn Danish?
The easiest Danish route (besides living there) is a structured course or if you can, a tutor to guide you step-by-step—keeps it clear and trackable. You can make your learning journey more fun by adding supplementary activities into your daily life like listening to podcasts or even watching movies.
How difficult is Danish?
The FSI says Danish takes 600 hours for English speakers to hit working proficiency—pretty doable thanks to shared roots like “hej” (hi) and German-like words if you know that. But pronunciation? It’s very tricky–—soft “d,” 20 vowels, and mushy sounds trip you up. Hard work pays off, though!
What is the best way to learn Danish?
The best way to learn Danish is through a mix of structured study, immersion, and consistent practice. Pick resources that match your style—like Pimsleur for audio learners or group classes on language exchange apps, immerse yourself in Danish media, and stick to a daily study habit. Consistency beats everything.