BRIT reacts to Geography Now! Denmark

In this video I (a British guy) react to Geography Now! Denmark, where I learn all about the geography of the Scandinavian country of Denmark, including the capital city, Copenhagen! How much do you know about Denmark?

Feel free to like or comment, or even subscribe to see more videos of me learning about Scandinavia - that's Norway, Sweden and Denmark!

[ahkkariq]

As a Norwegian, I could not understand that the word dog comes from Old Norse, and that is correct. The word comes from Old English, docga. The word for dog in old norse is hundr. In Norwegian it is hund, and I guess pretty much the same in Danish.

[boduholm]

The sirens are tested once a year. When I was a kid during the cold war, the sirens were tested every Wednesday at noon.

[pipkin]

Just letting you know that vitamin D here in Denmark, is classified as an anti-depressant. Which is a perfectly normal diet supplement for at least 6 months of the year 😉

We only test the sirens once a year, so I have to admit that I'm more concerned that one day a year, until it dawns on me that it's the first Wednesday of May, and I'm less vary

[Krydolph]

That siren is once a year - at noon.... You would have to be a real "Karen" to get annoyed by that!

[LadyDoomsinger]

That thing about just pronouncing the first part of a word, and then mumbling the rest is actually pretty accurate - in fact, as a Dane, I find it somewhat jarring when people "over-pronounce" Danish words (like actors on TV, or foreigners trying to speak clearly), it makes it sound stilted and unnatural.

[Stefus]

The sirens aren't annoying as they are only tested once per year. I always find them fascinating and stop what I do to listen to them.

[Patrikch]

We also have siren drils in Czechia. Every first Wednesday in month at 12:00.

[lassemadsen]

Janteloven or Jant's law is misunderstood a lot by a lot of people, even danes. It's a sarcastic set of 'laws' about how people in smaller towns used to live. It's basically a stab at farmers from people in largers cities.
And the part about anti-depressive meds are off, since vitamin D suplements are classed as one, and during the winter, when there is little to no sun, most people take them.

[krissd]

One thing though he says Icelandic can generally be understood by us.. No.
Danish, Norwegian and Swedish can be understood by each other. But not Finland or Iceland.

[rickybuhl]

KBH - A flat Bristol with less protesters and more bikes.

Sirens - less annoying than having to learn German..

With regards the language thing - to be somewhat direct; it's an effort and pain in the arse dealing with anyone stumbling through a foreign language (let alone a native English speaker), we're not about to do that, as a matter of habit, for a tourist that's going home tomorrow. Someone who's living or studying here, whose name we might know - it's another matter. Though that may just be a mainland/Jysk ting, I'm pretty sure it isn't.. It's not to be rude if we start speaking English, it's likely that we aren't on holiday and have half an hour of sunlight left lol

[lameduck]

Danish does indeed sound like someone trying to talk with a potato in their mouths. A lot of the sound is made at the back of our throats so it can sound like people mumbling. There's not a lot of high pitched sounds in our language like in Swedish or Norwegian languages. Also: The emergency sirens are tested once a year on the first wednesday of may at noon. It goes on for 2-3 minutes and that's it.

[knus]

Hi :) GB and Denmark did enter the EEC (later EU) at the same time in 1972. :)

[nielsjensen]

Everything in Scandinavia is more expensive due to us getting paid more. Things only cost what people can afford. People who come from countries that have a lower individual purchase power will experience this as extremely expensive.

Things in Norway get a price increase beyond that since pretty much everything has to be imported as there's little space in Norway for food production.

[ssskjold]

Actually there is about 700 words in english that comes from danish. Words like knife (kniv) egg (æg), many english citties are still called something with “by” which is the danish Word for town, village or city, like Westerby which means Vesterby in danish.

[mvoetmann]

He is wrong about Denmark being a founding member of the EU. We joined at the same time the UK did. You might say because the UK did.
If you go to Denmark, go in the summer when it is nicer. Also make sure to stay a while on one of the smaller islands. Island living is very much part of the Danish experience.

[anniekongsvold]

The Danish language? Yes, yes, yes! As you have been told there is not much of a melody here. There is emphasis on rhythm, not melody. Danish is a rhythmic language with emphasis preferably on one syllable per word, and each sentence have emphasis ONLY on the important words.. i.e. the words that are most meaningful with regard to the context. Consequently weak syllables in words and not so-important words in sentences are left to be pronounced very quickly or mumbled. This rhythmic pronunciation allows a fast pronunciation. You more or less only hear (clearly) what is emphasized, which is why listening to and copying the rhythm of Danish is so important... the rhythm often carries the meaning. 
30 years of teaching Danish to non-Danes has taught me that 2 things are absolutely vital to concentrate on if you want to learn or/and understand Danish: 1)Precise vowels and 2) the rhythm of words and sentences. Compared to that the rest is luxury !!!! :-)

[gittenielsen]

Just to clarify something. Denmark doesn't own the Faroe Islands or Greenland. They are part of the Danish Kingdom but self governing.. hope you understand. Sorry about my English.

[Laudrengen]

Fun fact. In Denmark the sirens are only tested audibly once a year, but in Greenland it's every wednesday at noon.

[madTitanja]

+ little tipp:
the emty plastikbottles & cans you can bring back to the stores, put it there into the Pfandmashine cos for every single plasticbottle & can gives 1 crown (money) back (when they have a black-white pfandsymbole on it, .bit Same like in germany too) !

[H.J.U.]

To the British commentator: A few years ago I was in an English restaurant in London which was certainly not fancy and I can guarantee you that the prices we were met with were hair-raising and at all times far above the Danish restaurants. As for the quality, it was definitely nothing to write home about. Now here, under inflation, you can't compare prices with other countries at all. 🤨🤨🤨🤨