Why choose the Danish language?
Approximately 5.5 million people speak Danish globally. Although the majority of speakers do live in Denmark, Danish is also spoken in Greenland, Norway, and Germany. It served as an official language in Norway until 1830 and in Iceland until 1994. Today, Danish is the primary second language taught to Icelandic students. Influenced by various German dialects during the Middle Ages, the language incorporated French and English words in the 17th and 19th centuries. Today, Danish comprises three distinct dialects, further divided into 30 sub-dialects.
Jutlandic Danish is the dialect spoken in Jutland.
Bornholmsk Danish refers to the dialect spoken on the island of Bornholm.
Insular Danish is spoken in Funen, Moen, Falster, Lolland, and parts of Zealand.
The benefits of learning Danish
Embark on a linguistic journey with Danish to enhance your travel experience. From deciphering road signs to connecting with locals, Danish proficiency opens doors to a richer exploration of cities and cultural gems. Dive into the heart of Danish-speaking communities, whether studying abroad, working in tourism, or embracing a different lifestyle. Living immersed in Danish fosters fluency, offering a unique perspective on life. Travel isn't the only reason to learn the language, however. You can elevate your professional edge with Danish skills in our globally connected world. The European market, especially Denmark, holds ample business opportunities. Or, embrace the mental workout that learning Danish provides: nurture flexibility, problem-solving, and active listening. Immerse yourself in unfiltered Danish culture, accessing literature, media, and culinary delights in their original forms. For those with Danish-speaking roots, mastering the language becomes a profound connection to heritage. Enrich your life with Danish, unlocking vibrant experiences and a world of possibilities.
An overview of Danish language pronunciation
Two things you'll have to prepare yourself for in Danish are reductions and assimilations. While English does feature some vowel and consonant reductions and assimilations in speech, their occurrences are relatively limited. Learning the Danish language reveals a distinct and unique spoken form, deviating significantly from its written counterpart due to extensive assimilation and reduction of vowels and consonants. Danish pronunciation incorporates a feature called "thrust," involving laryngealization, which can significantly impact the differentiation of similar-sounding words. Often considered a kind of accent, thrust plays a crucial role in Danish speech. With 17 vowel pronunciations, Danish forms infinitive verb constructions by adding a -schwa at the end. (If that sounds scary, don't worry, English already has 14.) Verb conjugation hinges on tense rather than person or number. Notably, Danish exhibits just two grammatical genders, common and neuter, although certain dialects introduce masculine, feminine, and neuter distinctions.
Best way to learn Danish
Stay Updated with Danish News
Immerse Yourself in Danish Podcasts
Practice Often, Even For Just A Few Minutes A Day
Embrace Pronunciation Mistakes
Focus on Practical Words and Phrases
Engage with Interactive Language Apps
Learn Danish Lessons Online with Babbel-App
Babbel provides those interested in learning this language for an upcoming trip to Denmark or a different Danish-speaking country with up-to-date technology and content that covers all areas of learning a language. Those who visit Babbel.com are even able to take their first lesson for free to see what the program is all about and how the learning process is organized. Students who want to continue with their Danish lessons will be pleased to learn of Babbel’s low prices.
There are exercises available at this website for reading, listening, pronunciation and writing. Babbel's ad-free interface may be navigated at whatever pace is desired. This is beneficial for those who may be fast – or slow – learners as many students in a classroom setting often feel that they are being held up or left behind. This will not be an issue for those who learn Danish with Babbel.
Test the first lesson of every course for free