9 REASONS WHY DANES DON’T LIKE YOU: Expat Tip on How to Avoid Danish Culture Clash

9 REASONS WHY DANES DON’T LIKE YOU: How to Avoid Danish Culture Clash
#danmark #denmark #expatsindenmark
Danish culture is awesome, and so is moving to Copenhagen, but like any country, there are unwritten rules to learn when you’re living in Denmark. Don’t put yourself in the middle of a culture clash. As Americans in Denmark, we give our best expat advice on how to piss off a Danish person and, of course, how not to. We cover things to avoid if you want Danes to like you while living among them in Denmark.
1 Mike explains all about the law of Jante or Janteloven and how this set of cultural rules in Denmark can make for a major culture clash with the Danes.
2 Derek explains the one simple phrase that can ruin your friendship with Danes and make a bad first impression in Denmark.
3 Mike covers the tricky topic of how much Danish you should speak and when to use your Danish skills if you don’t want to annoy a Danish person. It’s important to try speaking Danish or Danes won’t like you, but don’t speak it in certain instances or you might really piss off a Dane. Learn the difference and how to avoid Danish culture clashes around language.
4 Derek explains the best way to handle going to a Danish person’s home for the first time. There are a few simple things you can do to make Danes like you right away.
5 Mike discusses the importance of following through in Danish social culture. If Danes don’t like you, part of it could be that things you do come off as flaky or superficial. Use Mike’s expat advice and avoid these common culture clashes in Denmark.
6 Derek covers the importance of punctuality and how timing could be a reason that Danes don’t like you. Make sure you don’t piss off a Danish person by following Derek’s advice on how to make plans with a Dane.
7 Mike has told you in other videos how important biking is in Denmark, so it should be no surprise that poor biking skills and etiquette could be a reason why Danes don’t like you.
8 Derek tells you when and when not to talk to a Danish person and how the wrong type of conversation could be a reason why Danes don’t like you. There’s a time and a place for everything and we teach you the best way to talk to a Danish person.
9 Mike explains why your shoes could be why Danes don’t like you and how you can piss off a Danish person by not learning the difference between indoor and outdoor shoes. It’s covered in detail here and you’ll learn why it's so important in Denmark.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

For more information about expat life in Denmark and living in Copenhagen, check out our blogs:

INQUIRIES:

DISCLOSURE:
This is NOT sponsored content, but if you purchase something after clicking on links we may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

🎥 Our Equipment:
(Support this channel, by buying through these affiliate links)

Attributions:
Music: Retro Soul: Royalty-Free Music from Bensound
Janteloven - Poul Krogsgård, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
1:03 - Advice
1:27 - Bragging
3:02 - Asking "how are you?"
4:42 - Speaking Danish
6:25 - Bringing a gift?
7:22 - Not following up
8:38 - Being late or early
10:38 - Ignore the biking rules
12:03 - Small talk
13:12 - Wearing shoes in the house
14:15 - Final thoughts

[sawa_banara]

Me as a Dane trying to see why Danes don't like me o.o

[fintonmainz]

If you're American: STOP SHOUTING.
That applies everywhere in Europe.

[angelicaaranda]

Im going to Denmark for a semester, Im from NYC born and raised so I figured it would be very different. But hearing that people don’t like talking to strangers made me tear up from joy, I have never wanted something more.

[MrFtoudalk]

Janteloven: My late mother would tell this anecdote:
An American farmer visits his distant family in Denmark, also farmers. The Dane invites him to come out in the fields to see the land. They get in the Dane's old car, and the American says: "When I get in my car and drive out on my farm, it will be supper time before I reach the other end of my property!" "Yeah", says the Dane, "I had a car like that long ago".

[ludvigwitschel]

We Danes don't say "I'm good at this", but "I like doing this". Shows the Jantelov.

[teletoby]

The bike bell means move, not that you're doing anything wrong.

[iffataraislam]

So, basically they do what they say, & they say what they mean. But why they don’t pronounce what they write ✍️!?

[leamichaelsen]

The “rugbrød” did make my ears bleed a little 😂 but you guys are so sweet and it’s clear you have love for Danes and really make an effort. And for that I send you love in return! ❤️

[NOVANATORESS]

The small talk thing DOES happen in smaller towns and suburban areas. I used to live a few kilometers north of Copenhagen but moved to North Jutland, it was a huge difference in mentally of people - more laid back. I remember one of the first things that I experienced as different was that the school kids talked to the busdriver in polite and sweet manner, busdriver also stopped to empty mailboxes and even collected money for the local lotto club xD
But also, when standing in line at the store, they DO small talk here, and strangers greet each other either with a nod of the head or a simple hi and a smile. It's actually very nice and cozy that way.

[charliemanis]

There's only one reason they don't like me: I'm from Sweden

[TheChiefEng]

About foreigners trying to speak English, we really appreciate the effort by foreigners, but sometimes the Danish person may be in a hurry or maybe just not in the mood and in those cases, the Dane may ask the foreigner to use English. At any other time, we mostly welcome the effort of foreigners to practice their Danish language skills and we are usually more than willing to help out.

[regitzeillum]

I can really confirm the Danish problem with the “fake” let’s meet again. I lived in Boston for six months in 2001, and people I would probably never meet again, at the end of the conversation would say an apparently heartfelt “Oh, it was so nice meeting you!” And then there was an awkward pause when I didn’t reciprocate. I actually practiced saying it convincingly at home, so I could rattle it off, when people said it to me. It still felt like a lot like lying, since they could have no opinion on me after five minutes and hardly no conversation, and we weren’t likely to ever meet again.

[dal_exe]

The point about speaking danish and not speaking danish is very true. It depends a lot on how the situation is around you. I used to work at a coffee shop where a lot of turists and foreigners would visit and I actually quite enjoyed helping some of them with their learning of pronunciation…..but just not when there’s 5 people behind them😅

[evaandersen]

Moving to the US as exchange student in high school I was super surprised by the "how's it going" (me starting with a long answer, them continuing to walk) and the "let's hang out" (me being super excited but just discovering they weren't being genuine). It's small stuff but good to know!

[incantrix]

I have an American friend who always goes "how was your day?" and I'm like "I was at work, my day was the same as every other day." Why do you keep asking this. I'll let you know if something happened!

[bigbirddk]

You are SO right about the "How are you doing?" 🤣

I got tired of a previous american boss, asking / saying that when he passed me in the hallway, so I followed him for about 2 minutes and told him how I was doing ☺️ (This happened here in Denmark, I would never had done it in our US office 👍)

He never said it /asked me again 🤣

[XDdaniel]

the "bringing a gift" is mostly for if you are going to have dinner at their place, or you don't know each other very well. and yes up to 15m early is proper, just not earlier, and better have a good reason if you are more than5m late

[birbman]

For the love of god do not arrive earlier than 10 minutes ahead. 5 minutes early can be appreciated as it shows you value the other persons time, but don't push it. I'm doing this for your own good. Never late though, NEVER.

[JBOBC]

A Dane here with two small comments :) Firstly regarding our switching to English. It is often us trying to be polite, as we see a person struggling (and possibly be a bit nervous or embarrased) we want to help by switching to English. The second thing is regarding small talk - you are absolutely right, I usually just add that it doesn't apply if you have a question or need help in some way.

[anderskt]

Haha, great job you two, quite fun to watch as a Dane.

"How are you?"
"Well my wife left me, dog died, cat died, lost my job, so it's pretty shitty tbh"
"Oh i'm sorry, that must be terrible"
"Nonono, i'm good, i shouldn't be complaining, my life is good compared to some other's - so how are you?"
"I'm great, thanks, i've been travelling around, business is looking good atm"
"..."