Simple Danish Newsletter #28

Hi friends,

Today, we’re trying something a bit different—please let us know what you think of the format. We’ll be sharing a substantial list of phrases and vocabulary for making phone calls in Danish. Although many people rarely make phone calls nowadays (Darn kids..!), it’s even more important to be prepared for those times you absolutely can’t avoid it. While talking on the phone in Danish can seem a daunting task, they also have many predictable phrases and patterns that you can study to improve your confidence.

Starting the Call

Just like in English, starting the conversation politely is important. Here are some common phrases you might use:

• Hej, det er Rasmus.​
  (Hi, this is Rasmus).
  ​
• Goddag, mit navn er Antonina, jeg ringer på vegne af Denmar&Me.​
  (Good day, my name is Antonina, I’m calling on behalf of Denmark&Me.)
  ​
• Må jeg tale med Jonas?
  ​(May I speak with Jonas?)

When You’re the Caller

If you’re the one making the call, here are a few phrases to help you navigate the conversation:

• Er det et godt tidspunkt at tale på?
  ​(Is this a good time to talk?)
  ​
• Har du tid til at tale nu?
  (do you have time to talk now?)
  ​
• Jeg ville gerne tale med dig om [subject].
  ​(I’d like to talk to you about [subject].)
  ​
• Jeg ringer for at følge op på…
  ​(I’m calling to follow up on…)
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• Godmorgen Louise, hvordan går det? (Good morning Louise, how’s it going?)

When You’re Answering the Phone

When answering the phone, especially in a professional setting, it’s useful to be clear and concise:

• Denmark&Me, det er Rasmus.​
  Denmark&Me, this is Rasmus.)
  ​
• Hej, hvordan kan jeg hjælpe dig?
  ​(Hi, how can I help you?)
  ​
• Hvem taler jeg med?
  ​(Who am I speaking with?)
  ​
• Hej det er Jytte.
  (Hi, it’s Jytte.)

Handling Problems or Delays

Sometimes, you might need to address issues or request patience during the call:

• Beklager, jeg kan ikke høre dig. Kan du gentage det?
  ​(Sorry, I can’t hear you clearly. Could you repeat that?)
  ​
• Kan du lige give mig et sekund? Jeg skal lige finde nogle oplysninger.
  ​(Can you give me a second? I need to find some information.)
  ​
• Jeg er ked af det, men forbindelsen er dårlig.
  ​(I’m sorry, but the connection is poor.)
  ​

Ending the Call, when you’re the caller

Ending the conversation on a polite note is just as important as how you start it:

• Det var alt jeg havde. Tak for din tid, jeg følger op på mail.
  ​(That’s all I had. Thank you for your time, I’ll follow up on email.)
  ​
• Nå, jeg har en del jeg skal nå, så jeg bliver nødt til at smutte nu. (Well, I have a lot to get done now, so I’ll have to go)
  ​
• Det har været hyggeligt at snakke, men jeg bliver nødt til at smutte (It has been nice talking to you, but I’ll have to go now)
  ​
• Vi tales ved senere.
  ​(We’ll talk later.)
  ​
• Hav en god dag!
  ​(Have a great day!)
  ​
• Farvel og tak!
  ​(Goodbye and thank you!)
  ​
• Hej hej
  (Bye Bye)
  ​

Saying goodbye when the other person wants to end the call

• Jeg har lige et sidste, hurtigt spørgsmål…
  (I just have one last quick question…)
  ​
• Jeg ved du bliver nødt til at gå, men har du fem minutter til et sidste spørgsmål?
  (I know you have to go, but do you have five minutes for one last question?)
  ​
• Jeg bliver også selv nødt til at smutte. Kan vi finde et andet tidspunkt at tale videre på?
  (I also have to go myself. Can we plan another time to talk?)
  ​
• Mange tak for kaldet, det har været rart at snakke. Vi ses om at par dage
  (Thank you so much for the call, it’s been great. See you in a few days)
  ​
• Det har været hyggeligt at snakkes. Vi ses snart. Hej Hej.
  (It has been nice talking. See you soon. Bye bye)
  ​
• Tak for kaldet. Hav en god dag.
  (Thanks for the call. Have a great day.)

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Additional Useful Phrases

Here are a few more phrases that might come in handy during phone conversations:

• Kan jeg få dit telefonnummer?
  ​(Can I have your phone number?)
  ​
• Det passer ikke så godt lige nu. Kan jeg ringe tilbage senere?
  ​(Now is not a great time. Can I call you back later?)
  ​
• Jeg ringer dig op igen om lidt.
  ​(I’ll call you again shortly.)

Tips for making phone calls in English

• Learn Basic Phrases First Start with simple, essential phrases like those above. These will help you navigate most conversations.
  ​
• Prepare Key Vocabulary Before making a call, prepare a list of words and phrases you might need (like dates, numbers, names). If you’re calling for a specific purpose, like making an appointment or asking for information, learn the relevant vocabulary beforehand.
  ​
• Speak Slowly and Clearly Danish can be a bit tricky with its pronunciation. To make sure you’re understood, speak slowly and clearly. Don’t rush through sentences; this will help both you and the person on the other end of the line.
  ​
• Use Simple Sentences Keep your sentences short and straightforward. Avoid complex grammar structures until you’re more comfortable. Simple sentences reduce the chances of misunderstanding.
  ​
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Repetition If you don’t understand something, it’s okay to ask the person to repeat it. You can say, “Kan du gentage det?” (Can you repeat that?). This is a polite way to ensure you’re catching everything.

Our Favourite Things ❤️

(Advanced) Danish Podcast we’re listening to

​Vildt naturligt, is a podcast with biologist, Vicky Knudsen and Johan Olsen, whom some of you might know as the front-man in the Danish Band Magtens Korridorer (Spotify). However, Johan is also a Ph.D. in Protein Chrystallography. The two biologists look for natural explanations for why the world looks the way it does and together they answer questions such as: Why you have blue eyes, why the platypus lays eggs or why trees have bark. There’s always a bunch of good stories and anecdotes tucked away in the podcast, and we highly recommend it for more advanced learners.

Idiom of the Week: Når katten er ude, danser musene på bordet

Literally; When the cat is out, the mice dance on the table

This idiom is used when an authority figure or someone in charge is not around, and others take the opportunity to do things they normally wouldn’t, often breaking rules or behaving more freely. It’s similar to the English saying, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.”

Example: A) Far er ikke hjemme. Tror du ikke godt jeg kan tage en småkage, uden at han opdager det?

B) Haha – når katten er ude, danser musene på bordet.

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Word of the Week: Nå

Literally: Well / Now (and much much more)

“Nå” is a very versatile Danish word often used as an interjection. It can express a range of emotions or reactions depending on the context and tone – just see here how wide the range of meanings is. You might use it to show curiosity, impatience, surprise, or simply to acknowledge what someone has said. It’s a small word with big potential in conversations.

Example:

Person A: “Jeg fik et nyt job i dag!”

Person B: “Nå, det var da godt!”

Person A: “Jeg er lige kommet hjem.”

Person B: “Nå, så du havde en lang dag?”

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We hope you liked this week’s newsletter. What did you think of the format? Is it too dense? Not dense enough? 😊

Kram fra,

Antonina & Rasmus

Denmark&Me