Speak Danish: Your quiet superpower.

Photographs: Pexels

Text: Brooke Taylor Fossey

Anyone who knows me knows I have gone all-in on Danish. It’s been something that I have loved and really grown from. But I will be the first to say that that approach doesn’t suit everybody. We all have different timelines in Denmark, different competing commitments, varied skills and comfort levels, and distinct goals.

There’s a line of thinking that goes: you’re either 100% fluent or you’re nothing at all. But what if just a little Danish could start to change the dynamic? Real life lies between those two extremes. Real life lies in putting language together, klods (brick) by klods like a LEGO set.

Do you need Danish in Denmark?

Nearly everyone will say you don't need Danish to get along in Denmark. And it's true, you don't – on a daily basis, really. But in my eyes, the Danish language is a tool – and a big one – in your toolbelt for belonging in Denmark long term. Not just for the practicalities: understanding what's happening at your kids' school, landing a job in a network-driven job market, but also for your own deep, personal sense of belonging and feeling of home. For deeper friendships. For an implicit understanding of what’s going on around you and for having a say in it.

A big part of me doesn't want to say that language is nøglen – the key – to belonging because that implies a closed and locked door. Outsiders and Insiders. Them and Us. But the truth is that in Denmark, sameness is valued because it has been essential to their social cohesion and the success of their country for a long while. That's the reality of the past, and when you live here, Danish isn't just a tool - it can be an identity marker.

The trick is how to start, how to stay vulnerable through the process of learning, especially as an adult, and how to start actually using it. I'd like to frame it in a few ways that may help motivate you to start a small Danish habit today that will fall into place klods by klods.

A gift you give society

The Danish language isn't just et krav (a requirement) for residency, it signals openness, respect for the country you live in, and a desire to engage. Eyes soften and smiles come when Danes hear you trying – even with a thick accent, even with en masse fejl (a ton of mistakes), even with some Danglish thrown in. In a country where social cohesion is valued, speaking Danish isn’t necessarily about assimilation, but about joining in and being part of the bigger picture.

"You don't need to speak Danish to live in Denmark, but speaking a little can help you feel more at home."

A gift you give your friends

I have a Danish friend who said: when people get mad, they revert to their dialect – in his case, sønderjysk (South Jutlandic). What he meant by that was: when you have big feelings – anger, grief, elation – you want to express yourself sincerely, in what feels most natural, and that is often your native tongue (whether language or dialect). What I take that to mean is that learning Danish is also a gift you can give to Danes. Even though they speak fluent English, it's not always perfect - they can feel they lack nuance, and it's not what they always want to use to share their big feelings. The gift of reception and understanding is a gift you can also give, and sometimes framing it like that helps you want to keep learning.

A gift you give yourself

And what if it's not only about them – what if it's about you? Language influences not only our collective identity but also our sense of self.

Language is the tool we use to communicate our ideas, to understand expectations, to cry, laugh, and argue – in short, to connect with other people. But language is also how we belong to ourselves in a place. It's an integral part of how we see ourselves, how we interact in the world, and ultimately contributes to whether we feel part of or outside of a place. Learning Danish can be a tool to your own sense of belonging – not one where someone tells you you belong, but one where you feel it yourself in everyday interactions.

You don’t have to be perfect – and honestly, you won’t be. For a long time. It’s a journey of a thousand tusind tak’s – but it starts with deciding to try one day and starting small and building from there.

The goal is presence, not perfection. Mistakes are part of the charm. There is power of connection in vulnerability.

The power of ‘a little Danish’ isn’t about mastering grammar – it’s about inviting connection. Every tak, every i lige måde, every jeg lærer dansk is one brick…one by one they build, and soon you get a little braver. You try a new sentence in the wild. You ask a question in Danish instead of English. You dare to be vulnerable when you don't need to be.

You don’t need to speak Danish to live in Denmark, but speaking a little can help you feel more at home.

Sayings and idioms are an amazing way to connect with people over culturally accepted, humorous sayings, and a great way to stay nerdy on your own language journey. Today I’m sharing the Danish equivalent to ‘the icing on the cake’ – the thing that puts something over the top and makes it just perfect. In Danish: prikken over i’et. The dot over the letter i. That first time you successfully manage an interaction in Danish can feel like ‘prikken over i’et’ to your sense of belonging in Denmark.

Tips and hints from The Nearly Danish Dame:

• Learn little, often: Add small doses of Danish into your daily life - consistency beats cramming.

• Enjoy the process: Choose fun activities you already love - just do them in Danish.

• Watch & read: Watch Danish TV with Danish subtitles; read along with e-books and audiobooks.

• Listen & sing: Explore Danish podcasts and music; look up lyrics and try singing along.

• Speak daily: Leave Danish voice notes for friends - practice speaking and listen back.

• Cook in Danish: Follow recipes in Danish to mix learning with everyday tasks.

• Be curious: Look up words, notice patterns, and let curiosity guide you.