Introduction to the Danish Language

Where is Danish spoken? What does the language look like? What is stød?

This video gives a brief but thorough overview of the Danish language, covering its geographical distribution, pronunciation, grammar, dialectal variation and much more.

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NOTES
• In the sample text, I have changed a name to a pronoun to avoid spoilers.
• For pedagogical reasons, I transcribe some of the sounds (most notably [ɛ æ a]) with IPA values that more closely reflect how these sounds are actually pronounced, but which differ from how they are normally transcribed in descriptions of Danish phonology ([æ a ɑ]).

ERRATA
• The Danish word 'mark' doesn't mean 'ground', but rather 'field'.
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CREDITS
A big thank you to Lise Horneman Hansen, PhD, and Marc D. S. Volhardt, MA, for their help, especially with regards to Danish pronunciation! Mange tak til jer!

Music by Thomas Brok.
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FOLLOW / SUPPORT
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:11 Geography and status
3:18 Alphabet
3:59 Pronunciation
5:46 Grammar
7:30 Dialects
8:37 Relatedness
9:53 Sample
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[ethanor]

We are Danes. We see a title with "Danish" or "Denmark" in it, we HAVE to watch it

[Askejm]

Video: how to speak Danish
Audience: *90% Danish*

[Matstarx]

I was actually starting to question if you were danish or not. Your pronounciation is that good.

[sugarsmell]

Wow. It is really rare to hear someone not from Denmark nail the pronounciation so well! Even the soft d's and the stød sounded pæredansk! I'm impressed :D

[okseniboksen]

Usually I have something to say when people make videos like this about my language, but not this time. This video was just really good. Spot on pronounciation, good research and great presentation!

[BertGrink]

Kudos to the narrator for having such a good grasp of Danish.

[sanderchristensen]

That is some of the best pronunciations of danish coming from a non dane I am so impressed really did your research great video

[AgaEra]

Shit din engelske accent er god, det gik slet ikke op for mig at du er dansk indtil du begyndte at sige danske ord. Super fed video

[NicklasAndersenBL]

As a dane I have only one thing to say: Impressive!

Impressive pronounciation; impressive depth and impressive how thorough you were - it's always fun to have things pointed out that I, as a native speaker, never even think twice about.

[AKHalex]

Finally an introduction to Danish that doesn't suck! Thank you! :)

[draugsvoll]

As everyone has already said, great video and spot on pronounciation

[danish]

This is great, I am a danish teacher, teaching the danish language in middleschool. And your introduction has a totally different look at my language, which I find very inspiring and usable, thanks!

[alexanderfurgeson]

This thaught me more than 11 years of school.

[valdemarjrgensen]

I have literally never met a non-native Dane with such good pronunciation. You pronounced it better than people who have lived here for 30 years, or people from the Faroe Islands. Also I actually learned a few things I didn't even know (or things I do, but never really thought about was an actual rule).

[TheResidentPsycho]

YouTube needs more Danish learning content like this for learners like me 😭😭 this is so helpful

[Benceful]

Well, I am positively surprised. I have been living in Denmark for 3 years at this point, and you still managed to teach me a lot of new things about the basics of Danish. Also, great pronunciation!

[Toastie_EU]

So many things here surprised me - and I'm a dane!
I've never heard of "Stød", and I didn't actually know that the verb in second position was.. such an integral part of our language. I'd just never thought of it.
Amazing video!

[rzeka]

Just wanna say another thank you for using IPA. I know it's not uncommon but it makes me happy.

[casperguldborg]

I learned somthing about danish that i didn't know. And im danish. Good job

[Dragonmistress]

I hit like button cause you are pronouncing Danish words very well :)