A few years ago I wrote about the Danish A2 test, which (surprisingly) remains my most-read post. However, I failed my readers as I did not follow up with Part 2.
Today, I am at level Modul 4 of the Danish learning system. It has, however, become a dread for me. I completely stopped learning this foreign language for a year because my curiosity eventually turned into resentment. I wonder why, as a multilingual who speaks more languages than a lot of people, I have to be succumbed to the false sense of integration by allowing this one language barrier that is Danish to limit my freedom to express myself in most social situations. It became a huge internal struggle for me — the idea that I had to dumb myself down only to fit in.
But now I have found enough peace within me to try again, not for anything or anyone, but just as a challenge.
To those who struggle to start somewhere, here are the 50 most commonly used Danish phrases:
- Hej — Hello
- Godmorgen — Good morning
- Goddag — Good day
- Godaften — Good evening
- Farvel — Goodbye
- Tak — Thank you
- Mange tak — Thank you very much
- Velkommen — Welcome
- Undskyld — Excuse me/I’m sorry
- Ja — Yes
- Nej — No
- Hvordan har du det? — How are you?
