If you are thinking of ways to start up quality conversations in Denmark, one great way to start is by asking how are you in Danish. Asking if someone is feeling okay is a great way to show your concern and build up meaningful conversations from there. Therefore, in today’s article, we will be exploring the standard Danish words and phrases for how are you and other alternative ways you can ask if someone is feeling okay. Let’s get right in!
How Do Danes Greet?
Every culture has its ways of greeting and showing respect. For example, the Indians will prefer a small bow and putting their palms together as a way to greet an elderly person, while the English speakers may be okay with a wave or hug depending on the cordial relationship of both individuals.
Danes, however, are easygoing people and prefer the informal situation of things. It isn’t surprising that you will see your new Dane friends calling you by your first name and being informal with you after a couple of meetings.
When greeting, a simple handshake and direct eye contact are expected when greeting friends in Denmark. Ensure you shake the hands of women first before going to the men, and also try to shake their hands as well before leaving. However, depending on the relationship you have with the person, another form of greetings, such as a hug or wave, is acceptable too.
Also, keep in mind that you have to greet everyone when you meet a group of people. Greeting just the person you know may look disrespectful to most Danes, and a handshake with direct eye contact is okay.
How To Ask How Are You In Danish
Let’s take a look at the most common way of asking how are you in Denmark in both formal and informal situations.
Formal Situation
In a formal situation, let’s say a business meeting or a school setting, the most common way to ask how are you is Hvordan har du det? which means how are you is generally acceptable. Depending on the status of the person, you can decide to add Hr (Mr.) or Fru (Mrs.) to their first name.
Informal Situation
If you are asking a friend or relative how they are doing, here are the common ways to do that. You can use any depending on the situation’s context and your relationship with the person.
Ways To Reply How Are You In Danish
If you are at the receiving end of how are you, here are some great ways to reply.
| English | Danish | Pronunciation |
| Thank you | Tak | |
| It’s going well | Det går godt | |
| I am not feeling well | Jeg har det dårligt | |
| I am fine | Jeg har det fint | |
| I am okay | Jeg har det godt | |
| Thank you for asking | Tak fordi du spurgte | |
| I am not bad | Jeg har det ikke værst. | |
| See you later | På gensyn |
How To Ask How Are You In Return
When someone asks how you are doing, and you want to ask in return. There are two good ways to say that
Og dig? – This literally means And you?. This is one of the most popular ways to ask if the other person is fine. Og dig usually gets the response of Jeg har det fint from the other person.
Hvad med dig? – How about you or Hvad med dig is another way to find out if the other party is okay.
These two ways are the best ways to ask if the other party is doing fine quickly. However, sticking with a simple og dig will get the job done.
Other Danish Phrases You Should Look Out For
In case you are traveling to Denmark, knowing the basic Danish greeting, phrases, and other common words will make your stay more enjoyable. So, we’ve decided to also cover the most popular daily phrases you may need to get by
Mange Tak! Thank You For Reading!
Thank you for reading. I am sure you were able to get one or two how are you phrases that you will use during your next visit to Denmark. Don’t forget that a short handshake with direct eye contact is good if you are meeting someone for the first time. If you are interested in learning more Danish, then you should try out the Ling App.
Keep Learning Danish With Ling
Ling App is a language learning platform that comes with effective features and grammar lessons to take you from a complete beginner to a good level of proficiency within a short period, so long as you dedicate at least 15 minutes daily. It comes with daily reminders, quizzes, and other learning features targeted at the core language learning skills like speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The Ling App offers Danish and 60+ languages, including Swahili, Spanish, Estonian, Thai, and much more.
So, what are you waiting for? Download the Ling App today on Play Store and App Store
