How to speak Danish at work
Many international workplaces in Denmark run in English — but at the lunch table, the jokes, the plans and a lot of the small talk happen in Danish.
Practise the moments that make the difference at work, from the job interview to Friday drinks, then pick up the phrases and what Danish colleagues expect. In every conversation you hear what the other person says and choose what to say back.
Danish job interview questions and answers
Fortæl lidt om dig selv — tell us a bit about yourself — is how many Danish interviews start. Practise the questions that follow, and the small talk before it all begins.
| Danish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Fortæl lidt om dig selv. | Tell us a bit about yourself. | The opening question |
| Hvorfor har du søgt stillingen? | Why did you apply for the position? | Almost always asked |
| Hvad er dine styrker? | What are your strengths? | Strengths and weaknesses |
| Har du nogen spørgsmål til os? | Do you have any questions for us? | At the end |
| Hvordan ser en typisk arbejdsdag ud? | What does a typical working day look like? | A good question to ask back |
Your first day at work in Danish
Names, the coffee machine, and a question worth asking early: hvornår holder I frokost? — when do you have lunch?
| Danish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Velkommen til! | Welcome! | What you'll hear first |
| Hej, jeg er ny her. | Hi, I'm new here. | Introducing yourself |
| Hvor er kaffen? | Where's the coffee? | Finding your way around |
| Hvornår holder I frokost? | When do you have lunch? | Fitting into the team's day |
Lunch and breaks with colleagues
Many Danish workplaces eat lunch together, early and quickly — and it's where colleagues really talk. Rugbrød, madpakke and the weekend.
| Danish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Skal vi spise frokost? | Shall we have lunch? | Around half past eleven |
| Har du madpakke med? | Did you bring a packed lunch? | At the lunch table |
| Tak for mad! | Thanks for the meal! | Leaving the lunch table |
| Velbekomme. | You're welcome. | The reply to “tak for mad” |
| Hvad lavede du i weekenden? | What did you do at the weekend? | Monday small talk |
Fredagsbar: Friday drinks at work
On Friday afternoons many workplaces open a fredagsbar — a beer, a soda, and the week winding down. Here's how to join in, and how to leave.
| Danish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Skal vi tage en øl? | Shall we have a beer? | The invitation |
| Nej tak, jeg tager en sodavand. | No thanks, I'll have a soda. | Saying no to alcohol |
| Skål! | Cheers! | Raising a glass |
| God weekend! | Have a good weekend! | Leaving on a Friday |
Meetings in Danish
Giving an update, asking what something means, and saying honestly when a deadline won't hold.
| Danish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Hvordan går det med opgaven? | How's the task going? | Asking for an update |
| Jeg er ikke helt med. | I'm not quite following. | When you've lost the thread |
| Kan du forklare det igen? | Could you explain that again? | Asking for clarification |
| Det når jeg desværre ikke. | I'm afraid I won't get it done in time. | When a deadline won't hold |
Calling in sick in Danish
How to tell your boss you're ill: jeg er syg i dag, and when you expect to be back.
| Danish | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Jeg er syg i dag. | I'm ill today. | The short version |
| Jeg melder mig syg. | I'm calling in sick. | The standard phrase |
| Jeg regner med at være tilbage i morgen. | I expect to be back tomorrow. | Saying when you'll return |
| God bedring! | Get well soon! | What you'll hear back |
More conversations at work
Keep going
Danish at work
The words of the office, the meeting and the lunch table.
Danish for job interviews
Ansøgning, erfaring, styrker — the words of the job search.
Modal verbs
Kan du…?, skal vi…?, jeg vil gerne… — asking politely.
How to ask questions
Asking back keeps a conversation going.
Prøve i Dansk 3
The B2 Danish exam — practise its formats section by section.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Danish to work in Denmark?
At an international company, often not to get the job. Most other jobs in Denmark are done in Danish, though, and many job ads ask for it — so Danish widens the jobs you can apply for, not just the talk at lunch.
How do I prepare for a job interview in Danish?
Prepare a short answer to “Fortæl lidt om dig selv”, examples of what you're good at, and one or two questions to ask back. Then practise them out loud in the job interview conversation.
How do the conversations work?
You hear what the other person says and choose what to say back. Different answers take the conversation in different directions, and every line has an English translation.