Can Danes understand Germans?

Danes and Swedes know from experience that they can understand each other without necessarily speaking each other’s language. Swarte thinks that the Germans and Dutch could make more use of this capacity for receptive multilingualism.

What does Danish sound like to foreigners?

Spoken Danish sounds like a softened, more melodious version of German; I initially feel I should be able to understand Danish speech, if the speakers would articulate more carefully, not leaving out or slurring some of the German sounds and not so often raising the pitch on certain syllables.

Do Danish people smile?

You Danes never smile! That may seem weird, but it’s a fact you simply have to accept. Asking them why they’re so serious or ‘cold’ will only sound rude and put the Danes in an awkward position, making them feel apologetic for something they really don’t have to apologise for.

Do Danes understand each other?

Generally, speakers of the three largest Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian and Swedish) can read and speak each other’s languages without great difficulty. In general, Danish and Norwegian speakers will be able to understand the other’s language after only a little instruction or exposure.

How hard is it to learn Danish?

Learning to speak Danish can be difficult, even if you speak its close linguistic cousins, English and German. While the written language isn’t too tough to figure out, the spoken language is a headache. Danes pronounce only small bits of each word and smash those small bits together.

Is Danish language hard to learn?

Danish isn’t hard to learn, but as with most Scandinavian languages, the biggest hurdle with studying Danish is in being able to practice. It is generally spoken more quickly and more softly than other Scandinavian languages. Danish is also flatter and more monotonous than English.

Can Swedes and Danes just speak their own language without effort?

Popular Scandinavian television series have spread the rumor internationally, that Swedes and Danes can just speak their own language and understand one another without making any kind of effort. The reality is a little more complicated.

Do Scandinavians speak English and Danish?

Well, the reality is a little more complicated. The Scandinavian languages are close. But a Dane speaking Danish like he would with his fellow countrymen would be difficult to grasp for a Swede who hasn’t got a lot of exposure to Danish. This doesn’t mean that Scandinavians switch to English when communicating, though.

Why does Danish sound so different from other Romance languages?

Danish speech often sounds as if speakers were floating ideas or making wry observations and anticipated some negotiation or possible disagreement. French. Not just the r or u [y] — sounds that are not similar in other romance languages. Also how numbers are constructed.

What do you need to know about Denmark etiquette?

Denmark Etiquette. Being in a new country requires you to learn some new rules of etiquette so that you are not spoiling your chances for further invites. The rules below revolve around dinner parties and small gatherings at people’s homes. The Danes have some traditions, which they hold very dear and expect others to respect and uphold.