Episode 17: Danish Phrases Every Expat Should Know (That You Won't Learn in Class)

Learning Danish isn't just about grammar.

It's about understanding the little words and phrases that Danes use every single day—and figuring out what they actually mean.

In this fun follow-up to our Danish idioms episode, Meg and Selena tackle some of Denmark's funniest expressions, most useful everyday phrases, and the wonderfully blunt language that often leaves internationals wondering… did they just insult me?

From "There's no cow on the ice" to the many meanings of nå, we explore the Danish phrases that don't always show up in textbooks but are everywhere in everyday life.

We talk about:

•  Funny Danish idioms and what they really mean 
•  Everyday Danish phrases you'll hear at school, work, restaurants, and with friends 
•  Why pyt might be Denmark's most useful word 
•  When to say tak for sidst
•  The surprisingly complicated meaning of nå
•  Why Danish can sound much more direct than English 
•  Practical phrases internationals can actually start using today 
•  The cultural differences hidden inside everyday language 

Whether you're learning Danish, raising children in Denmark, or simply trying to understand what your Danish colleagues, neighbors, or partner are really saying, this episode will leave you laughing—and hopefully a little more confident speaking Danish.

Because sometimes learning a language isn't about memorizing vocabulary.

It's about finally understanding why there's no cow on the ice. 

Keywords: Learn Danish, Danish language, Danish phrases, Danish idioms, expat life Denmark, living in Denmark, moving to Denmark, Danish culture, learning Danish as an adult, everyday Danish.

 🎧 New episodes every other week — follow to stay updated!
 📩 Email: TheScandiShift@gmail.com

 📍 Instagram: @TheScandiShift
⭐️ Please rate + review — it helps other expats find the show! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Welcome to the Scandy Shift, the podcast where two expat moms talk honestly about surviving, thriving, and building a happy life in Denmark. I'm Selena and I'm Meg.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

And today we're bringing back a Danish language episode. So a few episodes back, we had the idioms and we did a game show style, which was really fun. And this time we're going to have a slightly different format. So we're not going to just do idioms where we guess it. We will have idioms. We'll tell each other the meaning. We'll guess it. But then we're also going to teach you guys a few Danish phrases that are actually used. So kind of like a uh a Danish language course by Meg and Selena.

SPEAKER_01 0:48

So not a proper Danish lesson. Just laughing here at the thought of Megan Selena, the Danish language instructors, because we are practically fluent. Yeah. Oh yeah. Fake it till you make it. No, no. This is going to be fun because we can we both cannot speak Danish.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

Yes. No, no, no. We try. We try. We work really hard on it. Okay. So the first one is going to be round one. We'll do weird literal translations. So we'll start with the phrases that sound, you know, completely unhinged when you actually translate them into English. And then we'll give options of meanings, and the other one of us has to guess what the meaning is. Are you ready? I'm ready. Okay. So the first phrase is actually my favorite phrase in all of Danish. There is no cow on the ice. Already strong. Okay. So the options are A, there is no problem. B someone is lying. Or C, the situation is about to get very dangerous.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

I mean, if there was an actual cow on the ice, I would assume the situation was quite dangerous.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

But it actually means A, there is no problem. So it's like someone says something and they're like, you know, that is one that actually makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 2:15

And is quite visual. Yeah. Yeah. Secretly brilliant.

unknown 2:20

Yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

I do love it. Okay. All right, your turn. Okay, next one. Oh, go a girl. To go cucumber. All right. I feel like this is harder. Yeah. Okay. The options are A, to become very healthy. To go crazy or lose it. To avoid conflict.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Well, okay, well, first of all, Danes do love to avoid conflict. So I naturally want to say C, but I'm gonna go with B only because it kind of sounds like a berserk to me, a gurk.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

Correct? Not because of the rhyming. It means go crazy, lose it, go off on one. Awesome.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Okay. Oh my god. All right, ready? So number three.

unknown 3:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

I hope I said that right. De urla emosen. There are owls in the bog. That sounds like a crime drama.

unknown 3:24

It really does.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

Okay, so the options are A, something suspicious is going on. B someone is hiding bad news. Or C, the weather is getting worse.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Oh, I think it's something suspicious is going on. I think if there's ever a bug involved, it's suspicious anyway. That's true.

SPEAKER_00 3:44

That's where you hide the bodies.

unknown 3:46

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 3:47

Yes, you're correct. It means something suspicious is happening.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

I like this one. It's got atmosphere.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

And probably a very bleak coastline.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

Very Danish mystery energy going on.

SPEAKER_00 4:02

Ooh. Like a little murder mystery.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

Danish murder mystery. All right. Next one. We're speeding through this. Umat or brilla.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Oh no. We had our guest came back from under the sofa.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

My dog just gave Selena a surprise. That's because we just talked about the bog. Now I'm on edge. Okay, sorry. It means sorry, with hat and glasses.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Okay. It sounds pretty adorable. I kind of envisioning like a small cute dane with like hat and glasses being like a small cute dane, like a vertically challenge.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

All right, bad. Okay. Now the options. Miha. Miha or thriller. To be dressed up very formally. Okay. B something is complete, exaggerated, or fully done. C, someone is trying too hard to look clever. I mean, to be honest, I really do think it's C, but I don't know. It means something like the whole package, fully done. So actually, you were incorrect. Okay. It was something is complete exaggerated or fully done.

SPEAKER_00 5:29

Oh, all right. I don't not know how to use that one correctly. It's no cow on the ice. That one's a good and easy one. Okay. So actually we did pretty well on that. We did pretty well. I mean, yeah, the last one I kind of missed the mark there, but the other ones were pretty good. Yeah. Okay. We're going to go to round two. So if it's hard for us non-Danes to use these sayings in just regular language, I think we can start helping people by using actual phrases. Well, Danes do say those phrases too, but ones that are maybe a little bit easier for us to learn.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

So phrases you might actually hear at school, at work, with friends, in shops, or from your Danish partner if you have them.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

So the question is not just what do they mean, it also when do you say them and would we actually, I don't know, dare to use them. Okay. So the first we are gonna start with is put.

unknown 6:24

Of course.

SPEAKER_00 6:26

So put means something like never mind or well, let's go. That's it's okay.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

Yeah, it's a small word doing a huge amount of emotional work.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

I don't know why I'm saying it like a French woman.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

Yeah, exactly. It does have it. I think that has French influence.

SPEAKER_00 6:43

I think it does too.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

And Danish kids, they learn it really early.

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Because, you know, as a parent, I feel like the English needs this. We don't have we have never mind, right? Like, oh never mind. But it's really not the same. It's not this like Yeah, yeah. It does, it doesn't roll off the tongue so much as like, let it go.

unknown 7:02

Let it go.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

We do have an entire song for the the the concept. But I I think put put is so cute.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

Yeah, put is much easier.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

Yeah, it is. And I don't know if it if I could use it naturally yet. Like I don't know if I can just flow off the tongue, so to speak, and say like put.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

Yeah, it doesn't come. No, and it is very Danish, but it's practical and emotionally contained. Yeah. Which is maybe why we both gone use it because we're not emotionally contained enough.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Oh my god. I I'd like to try it. I'm gonna my aim is by the end of this year, I will try it once or twice. This one, the next one, okay, I love Tac for Sist.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Ooh. I use it, I think it's wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

Oh, this one still fascinates me. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:51

Yeah, it literally means yo, thanks for last time.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Oh. Have we used this? I no, I don't think I have. I've heard it. I haven't used it. I think I might get confused on how to use it. Like, like tack facist, like thanks for last time. You are you saying that when you see the person the next time and say, hey, by the way, thanks for last time?

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Yes. Oh, okay.

unknown 8:16

I mean, it's like so.

SPEAKER_01 8:18

I guess I do want to feel like I should elaborate, but no, that's pretty much it. I don't think if it's somebody that you see on a very regular basis, yeah, you probably can say it would be over polite. I think it's something, you know, for example, we had like a small gathering of the parents with the kids that went to camp, football camp last week, and we're all school parents, so we know each other somewhat. We went to one of their gardens and we had pizza and Aperol, and it was very nice. Watched the England game actually in the yard. That was fun. But then I saw the dad two days later, and I said tact assist. And yeah, so he's not somebody that I see all the time. I just happen to see him again because we have kids in the camp. But that's how I've used it. And I bel I believe if I've understood this correctly, that it isn't something you would just if you see someone every day and you had some time with them and something fun the day before, like three days in a row, you probably wouldn't say it then. It's more like when you just see them again after some time. Yeah. Maybe you went to a birthday or something like that, and then you bump into them again or something.

SPEAKER_00 9:25

Interesting. Okay. So I do kind of understand it. I just need more in practice use it for pe well, I mean, I guess there are a few people I don't see that often. So the next time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:35

But we you're right, we would have a much longer. Oh, it was nice seeing you the other night. Thanks for the other. We would give more context to just saying thank you. Right. It would be yeah, exactly. Thank you for the last like it's yeah, we need more context. Tech persist is efficient. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

Uh and you've used it. So you're doing practice to it. All right. I just have to catch up to you then. Okay, so the next one. Oh, I love this one. I use this one actually quite a lot, not to jump ahead, but uh Bell Be Common. Oh, Belbi Cum. Bell become.

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Yeah, this one's slippery.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

Yeah. Uh it's because it means you're welcome and like well deserved, but I use it only as related to food. So you hear it around food a lot. Yeah, right. So like a lot of times with the chain or the waiter, uh, which basically I found out is an old word of saying servant or slave. So I just learned that in class the other day. Um when they come and they're like, political correctness. You know, when they come and bring you the food, they basically say like they'll become, right? So like, you know, it's it's the closest to bon appetite. When someone says thank you, right? No, I think when they drop the food, I've heard them say it. And then I'll say Really? Yeah. And then also at the end of the meal, when someone says talk from El, then I hear Velbicum.

SPEAKER_01 10:55

I've never, that is so funny. We're having like completely different experience with this word because I've only ever heard it when someone says thank you and then they go, well becomes.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

All right, okay. So we both use it, maybe incorrectly.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

Yeah, yeah. No, I don't use it. You don't, but I've only ever heard it in that context. Okay. As a reply to a thank you that's been given.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

Well, I definitely do it that way. And I have started to flex my language muscle by using it when things are down. And my husband hasn't corrected me, but I think sometimes he just gets tired of correcting me.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

So useful but contextually slippery. Yeah.

unknown 11:34

That's exactly right. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

Oh, yeah. This one. I love this one. Okay. Now for the big one. And we've all heard it where they go. Nah, nah, nah.

SPEAKER_00 11:48

All right, you get the best one. Nah. Okay. Tell us, tell us.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

Okay. So it can mean so many things. It can mean, well, okay, right. So, anyway, huh? I see. Moving on. This conversation is ending. I love that one. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. No, no.

unknown 12:16

Keep going.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

And the tone changes everything. Yes. So that really puts the meaning into it, I think.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

Yeah, it is about the tone here and the context. But okay, I think we should try and post this on our Instagram. I will obviously uh tag the creator, but I saw this long time ago where a person has a full conversation just using nah. Literally, they just say nah and it responding or thing, including like, all right, ending the work day. And they're just like, nah, it is the best. I'll find it and we'll post it on our Instagram so you can see it.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Yeah, I think it's funny how you know you can do the soft nah. Yeah. And that's like something completely. Yeah, it's like a whoa, shop. What? Yeah. Get the hell out of here. Kind of thing. And then the shop, no. It's hard not to sound French. I feel like the long no is like a whole emotional journey.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

It is. It is. Okay. I love this word because it does mean so many different things. Can non-danes use it? Do you use it? Uh so I have started trying to pepper things. When people tell me something, I'm comfortable in the the what? In the the the get out of here. Yeah, that like or um I've also used it in the oh, that's so sweet kind of nah, which is nah. Like, like, nah, or something. Nah. That's it.

SPEAKER_01 13:47

It sounds a little different, I think, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_00 13:49

It does, but I think it is the same thing.

SPEAKER_01 13:50

That one I just actually do now subconsciously. That is something just because of the kids. I hear it so that is uh one thing that I do probably daily, if I'm honest with you. That type like, no, like when they come over and they're like, oh, there's some kind of injustice, which with kids seven years and under, there's a thousand of those injustices every day.

SPEAKER_00 14:11

So the no gets a lot of use from me. Yeah. I have used that one. I do want to get to the fluency level where I could use it in high rate this conversations over ways. Like no. Oh no, that would say we should just pepper all of our conversations with no. Okay, so this one. All right, I uh befina ula de. I don't know how to say this as well. Like vifina ura de. Like we'll fight, we'll figure it out, we'll find it out.

SPEAKER_01 14:43

We'll figure it out.

SPEAKER_00 14:44

Yeah, we'll figure it out. Uh yeah, I I can't I can't really say it, so no, I don't use it.

SPEAKER_01 14:51

Well, there's one, two, three. There's five words there, so that's a lot, isn't it? Yeah, but it's it it's always the the eh. Like that one, it always gets me in there. Because it's a lot of gymnastics in our mouths.

SPEAKER_00 15:08

Yeah, it's a lot of like uh I had somebody on Sunday at a Bernadob uh tell me that my Danish was quite good, except I'm not so strong with my my like glottal vows. Yeah. And she's like, moo. And then she literally made me repeat after her three times. I'm like, lady, I just met you. Oh, she's trying to trying to get you there. No, I know. It was actually really lovely. It was quite nice, but also I was like, wow, thanks for correcting. So I don't know. I think it's something we would use in English, but I I mean, and I'll probably will when I can say it better, I'd use it.

SPEAKER_01 15:41

Yeah, we'd figure it out. We say things like that all the time.

SPEAKER_00 15:44

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

We do actually have an equivalent for that. Yeah, agreed. It's um it's reassuring or incredibly vague.

unknown 15:54

Yeah, that's true.

SPEAKER_00 15:56

Yeah. Oh, nah. No. You gotta say it all. Oh no. Nah. That's another mouth gymnastic. Nah. That was horrible. That was good. Okay. All right. So, all right, we did round one. We did now round two. So now we've got round three. This round is about directness.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

Not because Danes are rude, but because Danish can just sound very blunt, I think. When you translate it directly into English, phrases again that people do actually say. And when I say people, I say either fluent Danes typically. Maybe the wannabe fluent ones like us too, if we can throw these in. And obviously Danes.

SPEAKER_00 16:41

Is this rude? Or is it just Danish? A very real question. Because honestly, sometimes the words are clear, right? The words are clear, but the tone.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

Oh, the words are always clear.

SPEAKER_00 16:59

But the tone, not always. Yeah. And if you come from English speaking country, especially American English or British English, there's a lot of, you know, softening language, things that make, you know, you wouldn't say it that way, because that would be harsh. But Jay Danes don't. They just say it. And uh it's not always the way we would take it. It seems a little harsher, right?

SPEAKER_01 17:21

I think when you translate it directly into English, yeah, often it comes off and gives a different vibe or signal to what I think was actually uh intended.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

Yeah, I agree. Okay. So first one. Uh to give it ick meaning. That doesn't make sense. To give it ick meaning.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

Yeah, in English that one can definitely sound harsh. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

Depends on makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 17:46

It depends probably again very much on tone and how where you put the emphasis, but yeah, in Danish it can be much more neutral, I think.

SPEAKER_00 17:55

It can just mean like that doesn't make sense as in a logical standpoint, not like what you're saying is stupid. Or I don't see how this works. Like I'm not quite understanding where we're going with it.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

It's practical.

SPEAKER_00 18:08

It is, but I I do think when you're new and are probably or nine years in. And depending on mood, yes, you have to adjust to the lack of cushioning on that one.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

Yeah, that's a good way to put it.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

It's not rude, it's just not wrapped particularly nicely.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

No, sounds rude, but apparently is not. Okay. Useful, but emotionally abrupt. Strap in English speakers. What's the next one? All right, decadouick. Ah. You cannot do that. Although we're making everything sound abrupt too.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

I can't help it.

SPEAKER_01 18:47

It's because yeah, it it literally sounds like me to my kids. That's right. Decadouick!

SPEAKER_00 18:55

That's right. Most of this might just be because we are always talking to our children in some way. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 18:59

I think some like subconscious part of our brain. When we say useful, we mean if you're a parent. Or apparently have a very irresponsible partner or something.

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Oh god. So again, like you can't do that. Like, you can't do that. I think one sounds a bit harsh, or honestly, a bit whiny too. Like, you can't do that. Like a little like that's unfair.

SPEAKER_01 19:22

Sounds negative. It does sound very empty. I always get these things on like I don't even I'm talking about Danish phrases. I don't even know my English ones.

SPEAKER_00 19:35

Thanks for the help on that one. So yeah, I think like at least American English, we'd say something like, oh, I don't really think it's possible, or I, you know, I don't think you're able to do that. Not you're like, you cannot do that. Yeah, unfortunately that won't work. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:48

The Kedouik! The Kedwick. Efficient and devastating. But often not intended to be devastating.

SPEAKER_00 19:57

No.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

All right. So the verdict is it's practical.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Yeah. But I think another one of those things where you need to soften, maybe put a little emotional bubble wrap around it just to make it a little bit better. Okay. Alright, ready? Yeah. Okay. Do modus selvum. Right? So de mu Oh my god, I have to say this again. De mode selvum, right? So basically, that is up to you, or do what you want.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

This one again. Um this is like a running theme. All about tone. Yeah, yeah. I think that's just like it's a little bit like your husband just pissed you off, and you're like, yeah. Do better sellum. Do better salem. So again, all about tones and probably accent.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

Oh my god. I yeah, I think it doesn't have to be aggressive. I think it also could be like, yeah, like what do you, you know, kind of do what you like. Or I think it's a freedom. It could really imply some kind of freedom. I support your autonomy.

unknown 21:14

I support your autonomy.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

You have ruined my life.

unknown 21:22

Either one of those two things.

SPEAKER_01 21:24

That's a great substitute in English. Yeah. Depends how dramatic you're feeling on the day. I think again in Danish, this one can be very neutral. We're just making it extremely negative. Oh God. It is a bit passive aggressive, though.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Yeah, oh. Yeah, I think it does have a passive aggressiveness to it. So verdict. Uh I think used with the right tone to the right person.

SPEAKER_01 21:52

Dangerous without tone training. Context dependent. Oh, okay. What's the next one? Oh my god. De lit special.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

It is a little special. I mean, I think if you're saying okay, now I have heard this in a Danish conversation talking about a person, and they did mean the person was a little special. But as in like I couldn't understand the rest of the conversation. Are we actually going down the non-PC route here?

SPEAKER_01 22:27

No, I think we're like they thought they were incredible.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

No, that like that they were like a little bit wacky, a little bit like right there. Yeah, yeah, like a little special in the way of yeah, they're you know they're their own kind. They're their own kind, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

Yes. Yep. So I think the difference here is in English, special, it can have a negative. Yeah, but it often is positive. Yes. When we talk, when we say special, we we usually mean something positive.

SPEAKER_00 22:55

I don't know if we'd say she's a little special as a positive thing.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

Yeah, but I'm not like one way using the word special. Again, we are not trying to be negative.

SPEAKER_00 23:10

But it could be a polite criticism.

SPEAKER_01 23:13

Yeah, for sure. For sure. It depends. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:17

Okay. Uh so we've had weird little translations, everyday phrases. Phrases that made us question whether we're being insulted. So basically a normal Dane Dane-ish, really. Exactly. So now we need final verdicts.

SPEAKER_01 23:36

All right, we're we're going to choose our final winners and losers. Oh, okay. All right. Court is now in session. Phrase you will actually try to use. Okay, definitely put. That doesn't count as a phrase, but come on.

SPEAKER_00 23:53

Uh okay, uh I guess like do what you want.

SPEAKER_01 24:00

I I honestly I really like the Ogog Go Agook. Go ago. Yeah. Yeah. I would definitely. I think it's a gook. I think I get corrected by my kids a lot on that one.

SPEAKER_00 24:17

I okay, I just have a special place in my heart for uh There's No Cow on the Ice. That one, you're so biased. We shouldn't have put that one in.

SPEAKER_01 24:25

You love that phrase. I do love that phrase. But I feel like if I was gonna, I'm very set on this cucumber one. If you really just was saying, I think it's hilarious. Like, because I love the words held vilt as well for describing my kids. I think it's very fun. Um, but I think I could just be like, Yes, I got a game when I'm next to Noid. That now is like the that's a real lesson of the day for me. So now I have a new handling my kids phrase. Because I always say that I'm like, if you do that one more time, I'm gonna get real mad. Oh now I can just literally say, yes, can't go a grick. The only time I will ever say cucumber so aggressively.

SPEAKER_00 25:16

What did I say the other day? I said uh uh would it blew my uh I said like do you want to make me uh oh uh do vi bleu my uh suit sua sua like make me mad. Yeah, do you want to make me sore? Sour? I always think of it as sour. It is angry though. Yeah, it is angry, yeah. So, yeah. Um, it also means sour. It does. Sour and angry. But I mean, well, I think nah has to be on it for both of us, no matter what.

unknown 25:44

Come on.

SPEAKER_00 25:44

Nah.

SPEAKER_01 25:44

But it already is, I've already got that one. That would be a you have to vary your use of it. I need to read up about it. Like how many times can you use it in one conversation with a Dane, even though you're speaking in English? Every answer is nah. Okay. So I think that was a that was a good, healthy lesson in Danish and fun. So thank you very much again for spending part of your day with us.

SPEAKER_00 26:17

I know. I this one was a fun summer light episode. So basically, we're hoping that you all are enjoying your summer holidays because by the time this comes out, it should be nice, hunt, and sunny and hot and warm and almost over. Almost over. Almost over. Yes, almost over. And yeah, I guess uh happy Danish learning.

SPEAKER_01 26:35

Yeah, and please send this episode to someone who is still trying to understand why there is no cow on the ice. Takfoy day.

SPEAKER_00 26:42

Takfoy day.