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Danish attaches the definite article to the end of the noun, and its spelling is a good deal more conservative than its pronunciation — a lot of what is written here is not fully said aloud.

The most common words in Danish, most frequent first, with English meanings.
#WordIn English
1 jeg I
2 det the
3 er to be
4 du thou, you
5 ikke not
6 at that
7 i in, inside
8 en a, an
9 og and
10 har to have, have got
11 vi we
12 til to, towards
13 on
14 hvad what
15 med with
16 so, often with a following dependent result clause…
17 for for
18 mig first person singular accusative personal pronoun; me
19 der there
20 han he
21 dig you
22 de plural definite article
23 den the
24 kan to be able, can
25 af by
26 var to be
27 vil to want to, be willing to
28 her here
29 et a, an
30 skal will, would, shall, should
31 men but
32 ved at, by
33 om about
34 nu now
35 ja yes
36 som as, like
37 hun she
38 nej no
39 min mine 1.st person singular possessive pronoun
40 noget a little, a bit, somewhat
41 ham him: objective of han
42 være to be
43 bare just
44 din your, thy
45 hvor where
46 must, have to, got to
47 hvis if
48 os us, objective of vi
49 kom to come
50 ud out
51 dem them
52 godt well
53 fra from
54 have sea, ocean
55 ville to want to, be willing to
56 se to see
57 gør to do, perform, execute
58 hvorfor wherefore, why
59 alle all
60 lige just, recently
61 op up
62 hende objective case of hun: her
63 sig third-person pronoun
64 hvordan how
65 tror to believe
66 tak to thank
67 gøre to do, perform, execute
68 kunne to be able, can
69 lad let
70 kommer to come
71 havde to have, have got
72 eller or
73 meget very
74 nok enough
75 few
76 da surely
77 ingen no
78 man you, one, they, people
79 to go
80 går to go
81 hvem who
82 bliver to become; the latter is preferred with nouns if a change…
83 efter after; subsequent; later in time than
84 sagde to say
85 tilbage back
86 når when
87 alt all
88 måske perhaps, possibly, maybe
89 også too, as well, also
90 jo as you know or should know
91 mit mine 1.st person singular possessive pronoun
92 ind in
93 vores our, ours
94 hej hi, hello
95 mere more
96 hans he
97 skulle will, would, shall, should
98 blev to become; the latter is preferred with nouns if a change…
99 nogen some
100 lidt a little, slightly
101 aldrig never
102 får to get
103 siger to say
104 selv self, -self
105 far father, dad
106 over above
107 to two
108 kun only
109 sådan like this, like that, in this way, in that way
110 ser to see
111 dit your, thy
112 jer second person plural objective case – you, yourselves
113 igen again
114 mor To amuse, entertain
115 sammen together
116 tager to take, get, pick up
117 mand man
118 hele whole, entire, complete, full
119 deres their
120 dag day
121 tage roof
122 mine mine 1.st person singular possessive pronoun
123 sige to say
124 gjorde to do, perform, execute
125 fordi because
126 end than
127 undskyld to excuse
128 før before
129 været to be
130 komme to come
131 hold to hold
132 væk gone
133 dette this; this one
134 blive to become; the latter is preferred with nouns if a change…
135 år year
136 ned down, downwards
137 helt completely, altogether, quite, fully, totally, absolutely
138 fik to get
139 tid time
140 denne this; this one
141 god good
142 gang To multiply
143 laver to make, create, construct, produce
144 nogle some
145 sted imperative of stede
146 mange many
147 folk people, persons
148 dine your, thy
149 tale speech, talk, address, discourse
150 tag to take, get, pick up
151 ting thing
152 siden since, later, afterwards, in the time since then
153 finde to find
154 altid always
155 brug to use
156 stadig constantly
157 hjem home
158 virkelig really, truly
159 fint finely
160 anden other, another, else
161 lille small, little, slight
162 kender know
163 andre others
164 elsker to love
165 liv life
166 intet no
167 tog to take, get, pick up
168 ret straight
169 gerne with pleasure; gladly, willingly, readily
170 uden without
171 vent wait
172 hendes she
173 vel well
174 lide suffer
175 hjælpe to help
176 set to see
177 mod toward, towards; to
178 troede to believe
179 tre three
180 vide to know
181 gud god, God
182 gik to go
183 klar to manage, to handle, to cope
184 bedre good
185 vej weigh
186 gjort to do, perform, execute
187 sidste last
188 sker be
189 død die
190 samme same
191 vidste to know
192 sin third-person sg pronoun, meaning his/her/its
193 fanden the hell, the devil
194 forstår to understand
195 arbejde work
196 to reach
197 hør to hear
198 første first
199 giv to give
200 penge money
201 hjælp to help
202 andet second
203 hen Used with a verb, indicating a movement towards or to…
204 ven friend
205 giver to give
206 aften evening
207 blevet to become; the latter is preferred with nouns if a change…
208 jeres your
209 give to give
210 burde ought
211 høre to hear
212 taler speech, talk, address, discourse
213 længe long
214 eneste only, sole
215 morgen morning
216 endnu yet
217 under under
218 holde to hold
219 fandt to find
220 bruge to use
221 skat treasure
222 synes to think
223 bedste good
224 står to stand
225 venner friend
226 fortælle to tell, to report
227 sikker safe, secure
228 finder to find
229 vær to be
230 navn name
231 skete be
232 måde method, way
233 tro belief
234 døde dead, inanimate
235 sikkert probably
236 hos at X's abode
237 selvfølgelig of course, naturally, sure
238 holder to hold
239 par pair
240 hedder to be called
241 nødt see nødt til
242 flere more
243 fået to get
244 behøver to need
245 hver every, each
246 først first, firstly
247 engang once, one day, at one time
248 vist I think
249 verden world
250 betyder to mean
251 ude out
252 ellers otherwise
253 snart soon
254 stop to stop, halt
255 stor large
256 bange afraid, frightened, scared
257 børn child
258 næste neighbour
259 faktisk actual, real
260 gav to give
261 søn son
262 pige girl
263 fyr to sack
264 prøver trial, test, examination
265 ked tired, sorry
266 derfor therefore
267 hallo hello
268 familie family
269 gange Used to show that one has to multiply one or more numbers…
270 gode good
271 tiden time
272 øjeblik blink of an eye, moment
273 nye new
274 store large
275 lade languid, lazy, indolent
276 lave low
277 ligesom sort of, kind of, as it were
278 alene only
279 mænd man
280 møde meeting
281 ihjel to death
282 skyld blame, guilt
283 sagt to say
284 gamle old
285 dage day
286 galt a castrated male pig
287 mennesker human, human being, man
288 kone wife
289 ses to see
290 fundet to find
291 allerede already
292 arbejder work
293 grund to prime
294 slags A hit, punch
295 stille still, quietly, silently
296 én alternative form of en
297 fem five
298 hvornår when
299 taget roof
300 ønsker wish
301 die
302 rigtig right
303 glad happy, glad
304 orden order, neatness
305 huske to remember
306 længere anymore
307 disse this; this one
308 farvel goodbye, farewell
309 slå bolt
310 hørte to hear
311 lyder flaw, blemish
312 begge both
313 bil car, automobile
314 dræbe to kill
315 hinanden each other
316 hørt to hear
317 del divide
318 rigtigt right
319 minutter minute
320 barn child
321 politiet police
322 fejl wrongly, erroneously, mis-
323 s abbreviation of springer
324 senere later
325 bilen car, automobile
326 håber to hope
327 kvinde A woman
328 hører to hear
329 haft to have, have got
330 virker work, labor
331 herfra from here; hence
332 fire four
333 l abbreviation of løber
334 tænkte to think
335 kommet to come
336 sket be
337 dør die
338 helvede hell
339 hus house, harbour
340 fortæl to tell, to report
341 rolig calm, quiet, peaceful
342 venter wait
343 hurtigt rapidly, expeditiously
344 frem forward, toward
345 klare to manage, to handle, to cope
346 kører to drive
347 ny new
348 heller either
349 spørgsmål question
350 langt long
351 rundt round, around
352 bror brother
353 næsten nearly
354 hvilken what, which, the
355 byen town, city
356 bliv to become; the latter is preferred with nouns if a change…
357 sandt true
358 gået to go
359 livet life
360 pas passport
361 leder to manage, run
362 bør ought
363 indtil until, till
364 fortalte to tell, to report
365 side side; a bounding straight edge or surface
366 inden inner, interior
367 hellere rather
368 ringer To call, to telephone
369 bad to ask, request
370 imod against
371 videre farther, further
372 tænker to think
373 lort crap, shit
374 ingenting nothing
375 mens while, when
376 beklager sorry
377 pis piss
378 sit third-person sg pronoun, meaning his/her/its
379 problem problem
380 ord word
381 vejen road
382 sød sweeten
383 ondt evil
384 dreng boy, lad
385 sent late
386 sjovt funnily
387 sæt to put, place, set
388 lang long
389 job job
390 inde inside, indoors
391 datter daughter
392 problemer problem
393 timer hour
394 prøve trial, test, examination
395 svært difficult, hard, stiff, tough
396 køre to drive
397 nogensinde ever, at some time
398 bag behind
399 lader barn
400 snakke to talk, speak
401 færdig finished, completed
402 vise wise
403 stedet place
404 ligner resemble, look like
405 ti ten
406 dræbte to kill
407 egen own
408 gammel old
409 hjemme at home, home
410 forbi Finished
411 tænk to think
412 fantastisk incredible, amazing, fantastic
413 dog however
414 bor to live, reside, dwell
415 mad food
416 fri to propose
417 sidder to sit
418 tænke to think
419 stoppe to stop, halt
420 gennem through
421 føler to feel, sense
422 omkring about
423 ad by
424 ske be
425 igennem through
426 mellem between
427 velkommen welcome
428 kæft mouth
429 måtte mat
430 ringe ring
431 hader to hate
432 løb to run
433 stå to stand
434 spise food
435 vente wait
436 chance chance
437 ligger to lie
438 slet at all
439 nyt new
440 slap to let go, release, drop
441 døren door
442 våben a weapon
443 slår to beat, hit, knock
444 kalder to call, to refer to
445 husker to remember
446 handler commerce, trading
447 ring To call, to telephone
448 passer compass, pair of compasses
449 hvilket what, which, the
450 fortæller to tell, to report
451 beder beet
452 mest mostly; for the most part
453 lavet to make, create, construct, produce
454 huset house
455 al all
456 tæt closely
457 snakker to talk, speak
458 uge week
459 seks six
460 hovedet head
461 spørge to ask, inquire
462 hånd hand
463 søster sister
464 leve to live, be alive
465 plads place
466 hjælper to help
467 redde to save, rescue
468 sgu An intensifier
469 holdt to hold
470 historie history
471 sine third-person sg pronoun, meaning his/her/its
472 ben leg
473 bruger to use
474 helst with pleasure; gladly, willingly, readily
475 fast firm
476 talte to make a speech
477 dræbt to kill
478 stort large
479 glem to forget
480 blod blood
481 live live
482 nummer number
483 the alternative spelling of te
484 kæreste boyfriend or girlfriend; significant other
485 sandheden truth
486 sagen matter, affair
487 jorden earth
488 begynder to start, begin, commence, open
489 måneder month
490 tur turn
491 spille to play
492 kvinder A woman
493 slog to beat, hit, knock
494 nat night
495 seng bed
496 lavede to make, create, construct, produce
497 valg choice
498 gift marry
499 skide bloody
500 piger girl
501 ringede To call, to telephone
502 prøv to try
503 fuld full
504 time hour
505 alligevel nonetheless, nevertheless
506 lære to teach
507 idé idea
508 værsgo here you are
509 vand water
510 spiller music player
511 drenge boy, lad
512 tænkt to think
513 tidligere early
514 kort briefly
515 mindre small, little, slight
516 besked message
517 talt to make a speech
518 rigtige right
519 prøvede to try
520 præcis precisely, specifically
521 læg to lay
522 masse mass, pulp
523 øjne eye
524 klokken o'clock
525 forkert wrongly, wrong, erroneously
526 hårdt hard
527 fedt fat, obese
528 agent agent
529 dagen day
530 smuk beautiful, handsome, good-looking
531 kaptajn captain
532 øje eye
533 forstå to understand
534 elskede to love
535 slut to end, to finish
536 forældre parents
537 lov to promise
538 sætte to put, place, set
539 fortalt to tell, to report
540 muligt possible
541 kærlighed love, affection
542 lever to live, be alive
543 mening an opinion
544 hjerte heart
545 chef A boss; person in charge, person who directly oversees the…
546 sætter to put, place, set
547 foran ahead, in front
548 vigtigt important
549 ligeglad indifferent
550 arbejdet work
551 sjov fun
552 perfekt perfectly
553 små small, little, slight
554 luk to close
555 uger week
556 forstået to understand
557 aner forefather
558 sag matter, affair
559 vis to show
560 lyst light, bright
561 viser song, ballad, ditty
562 fred peace
563 dollars a dollar
564 værre worse, more bad, more badly
565 aftale arrangement
566 sidst last
567 find to find
568 spørger to ask, inquire
569 steder place
570 tom empty
571 plan a plan
572 rejse journey
573 udenfor outside
574 hente to fetch, retrieve
575 svar to answer, reply, respond
576 dræber to kill
577 unge young
578 ansigt face
579 ej used to express surprise, irritation, reproach, annoyance…
580 held luck, fortune
581 købe buy
582 værd worth
583 betale to pay
584 kendte known
585 dårligt bad, badly, poorly
586 endelig finally, eventually
587 beskytte to defend, protect
588 findes to find
589 spil A game
590 roligt calm, quiet, peaceful
591 let lightly
592 sender to send
593 værelse room; separate part of a building
594 stod to stand
595 fyre guy
596 dårlig bad, unwell, poor
597 bede bed
598 land to land
599 derude out there
600 oppe try one's best; try to improve
601 begyndte to start, begin, commence, open
602 hoved head
603 person person
604 stykke piece
605 træt tired
606 by town, city
607 manden man
608 sex Sexual intercourse, sex
609 sikke what
610 natten night
611 kære to appeal
612 sikkerhed safety, security
613 mødes meeting
614 sove to sleep
615 ønske wish
616 idiot an idiot, imbecile, fool
617 fald to fall
618 tøj fabric, material
619 bo estate
620 mangler to lack
621 hva misspelling of hvad
622 kaffe coffee
623 sidde to sit
624 godmorgen good morning
625 nede down
626 røven bum, arse, ass
627 lykke happiness
628 millioner a million
629 givet undoubtedly
630 derinde in there
631 jamen but
632 dum stupid, dense, dumb, thick, dim
633 syg sick, ill
634 søde sweet
635 rart pleasant
636 mindste small, little, slight
637 husk to remember
638 kæmpe gigantic, colossal
639 hænder hand
640 mærke mark, sign, label, tag
641 rette straight
642 svin hog, pig, swine
643 lod let
644 film a movie, a film, motion picture
645 desværre regrettably, unfortunately
646 krig war
647 tal to make a speech
648 skrive to write
649 forhold relation
650 skade damage, harm
651 herre very
652 fængsel prison
653 spurgte to ask, inquire
654 syv seven
655 større large
656 familien family
657 godnat good night
658 skyde to shoot
659 lig to lie
660 øjnene eye
661 spiser food
662 følge to follow
663 følger to follow
664 goddag good day
665 hund dog
666 herrer gentleman
667 vinder reel
668 træk to pull, drag, haul, tow
669 anderledes differently
670 kamp battle, struggle
671 uanset notwithstanding, whatever
672 blot only, merely
673 gider to be bothered
674 sendte to send
675 drikke a drink, beverage
676 travlt busy
677 vild wild
678 afsted alternative form of af sted
679 fest party
680 tillykke congratulations
681 venstre left
682 passe to look after
683 betaler to pay
684 læse to read
685 kør to drive
686 dollar a dollar
687 skød to shoot
688 brugte to use
689 vred angry
690 stole chair
691 skole school
692 højt loudly
693 højre right
694 bekymret to worry
695 tjeneste duty, service
696 tja Expression of contemplation
697 hertil here; to here
698 utroligt incredible, unbelievable
699 straks at once, immediately, straight away, right away, instantly
700 onkel uncle
701 åbne open
702 råd council
703 kørte to drive
704 telefon telephone
705 skudt to shoot
706 fru Mrs
707 knægt boy, lad
708 største large
709 løbe to run
710 otte eight
711 skolen school
712 sende to send
713 hår hair
714 forklare to explain
715 dejligt delightful
716 kontor office
717 sendt to send
718 javel yes, yessir, affirmative
719 eget own
720 vejret weather
721 tingene thing
722 damer lady, woman
723 pigen girl
724 ung young
725 billede picture, image
726 lede disgusting, odious, loathsome
727 pistol handgun, pistol
728 børnene child
729 mord murder
730 menneske human, human being, man
731 fandens devil, Satan
732 spor spur
733 dele part, portion
734 ende end
735 bog book
736 mødte to meet, encounter
737 hvide white
738 mødt to meet, encounter
739 kigger to look
740 ægte true, right, real
741 vinde reel
742 doktor doctor
743 mistet to lose
744 dyr animal, beast
745 indenfor inside
746 sover to sleep
747 stopper to stop, halt
748 glemt to forget
749 læge lay
750 skyder to shoot
751 bord table, desk
752 bedst good
753 røv bum, arse, ass
754 elske to love
755 faldt to fall
756 lys light, bright
757 slemt bad, ill-behaved, mean
758 lyver to lie
759 begynde to start, begin, commence, open
760 ha ha!
761 slået to beat, hit, knock
762 sikre safe, secure
763 forlade to leave
764 advokat lawyer, attorney
765 ændre to change, to alter
766 beviser proof
767 aftes i aftes, i går aftes – last night, yestereve,…
768 lærer to teach
769 baby A baby, an infant
770 kendt know
771 dumme stupid, dense, dumb, thick, dim
772 overhovedet at all, whatsoever
773 sort under the table; secretly, so as to avoid taxation
774 ene one
775 kalde to call, to refer to
776 middag midday, noon
777 herinde in here
778 forsøger try
779 sekunder second
780 født to bear, give birth
781 skrev to write
782 kig to look
783 skriver to write
784 hænderne hand
785 selvom alternative form of selv om
786 nemlig that is, that is to say
787 mistede to lose
788 landet country
789 arbejdede work, to do a specific task
790 tidspunkt time, moment, date, point in time
791 smukt beautiful, handsome, good-looking
792 falder to fall
793 flytte move, remove
794 problemet problem
795 skylder to owe
796 egne own
797 brugt to use
798 sad to sit
799 smukke beautiful, handsome, good-looking
800 fly airplane, aeroplane
801 fare danger, hazard
802 rejser journey
803 umuligt impossible
804 ærligt honest
805 ide alternative form of idé
806 vildt wild
807 øl beer
808 prøvet to try
809 slippe to let go, release, drop
810 fuck Expresses dislike of the postpositive complement
811 hospitalet hospital
812 skyd to shoot
813 kende a little bit
814 tidligt early
815 dame lady, woman
816 skør insane
817 stolt proud
818 løber to run
819 fars father, dad
820 sat to put, place, set
821 lægge calf
822 rent purely
823 føle to feel, sense
824 enhver any, every, each
825 netop precisely; very
826 mund mouth
827 makker mate, buddy, friend who is not close
828 døden death, decease, demise
829 drink drink; a alcoholic beverage
830 pokker damn
831 billeder picture, image
832 pris price
833 alting everything
834 sælge to sell
835 fange to catch, to capture
836 reddede to save, rescue
837 ødelægge to destroy
838 vandet water
839 stemme voice
840 kigge to look
841 tør dry
842 savner to miss
843 sorte black
844 løgn lie
845 gave gift, present
846 krop body
847 kontakt to contact
848 ringet To call, to telephone
849 fortsæt to continue
850 sur whirr
851 stoler Only used with på: see stole på
852 ære honor
853 forsigtig cautious
854 fleste most
855 sid to sit
856 starte to start
857 ordne to order, arrange, organize
858 præsident president
859 glemme to forget
860 stærk strong
861 rør to touch
862 miste to lose
863 sang sing
864 stil to put, place, stand
865 glemte to forget
866 pænt fairly, pretty; to some extent
867 gutter boy, lad, bloke
868 halv half
869 åben open
870 naturligvis of course
871 færdige finished, completed
872 angreb to attack, assault
873 lægger to lay
874 smule a little bit of something
875 ender end
876 forkerte wrong
877 fin fine
878 skidt to shit
879 lukket closure, flap, tap, a momentary closure of the oral cavity
880 pludselig suddenly, all of a sudden
881 hav to have, have got
882 drøm to dream
883 ryger to smoke
884 barnet child
885 skål cheers!
886 stjal to steal
887 syntes to think
888 midt in the middle/centre
889 sulten hungry, wanting to eat
890 vender to turn
891 følelser feeling
892 hjalp to help
893 bestemt certainly, definitely
894 direkte direct, straight
895 øh uh
896 starter start
897 både both
898 virkede function properly
899 interessant interestingly
900 lejlighed apartment, flat
901 røvhul anus, arsehole, asshole
902 vende to turn
903 guds god, God
904 undskylde to excuse
905 overalt everywhere
906 oberst colonel
907 lært to teach
908 derovre over there, thither
909 ønskede to wish
910 styr to head, govern, rule, manage, control
911 masser mass, pulp
912 historien history
913 frue wife
914 tv TV
915 heldig lucky, fortunate
916 fører to lead, guide
917 køber buy
918 egentlig really, actually
919 mister to lose
920 mål language
921 kræver to demand
922 ro calmness
923 blå blue
924 købte buy
925 sælger to sell
926 a of, of...each, each containing
927 værste worse
928 luften air
929 forlod to leave
930 minder a memory, remembrance
931 musik music
932 skrevet to write
933 skønt although
934 måned month
935 dumt stupid, dense, dumb, thick, dim
936 general general
937 mulighed possibility
938 fader father
939 verdens world
940 satte to put, place, set
941 send to send
942 ærlig honest
943 to lie
944 brød to break
945 høj high
946 meter a metre, or meter
947 forsøgte try
948 lovede to promise
949 drikker drink
950 ens one
951 enkelt single, individual, not immediately surrounded or followed…
952 forsvandt to vanish, to disappear
953 løs loose, not tight
954 stand position, social status, station
955 ni nine
956 kaldte to call, to refer to
957 trækker to pull, drag, haul, tow
958 spørg to ask, inquire
959 morges morning
960 bryder steward
961 trække to pull, drag, haul, tow
962 lagde to lay
963 ødelagt to destroy
964 slås to beat, hit, knock
965 sødt sweet
966 dengang back then, at that time
967 an on
968 stemmer voice
969 tredje third
970 nemt easy
971 løj to lie
972 lyset light
973 tegn sign
974 ren reindeer
975 levende to live, be alive
976 læst to read
977 medmindre unless
978 sov to sleep
979 fortsætte to continue
980 nær near
981 forskellige different
982 ejer owner
983 jul Christmas
984 møder meeting
985 skaffe to procure, to get
986 hånden hand
987 viste to show
988 ét one
989 mon I wonder
990 snak to talk, speak
991 lærte to teach
992 respekt respect
993 danse a dance
994 lege play, game
995 adgang access, permission, entry
996 frokost lunch
997 forelsket lovingly
998 taber to lose
999 skid fart
1,000 stol Only used with på: see stole på

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Download all 10,000 Danish words

Frequencies come from the OpenSubtitles corpus via hermitdave/FrequencyWords; English meanings from Wiktextract. Both are CC BY-SA 4.0, and so is this list.

Words stick once you use them

A list gets you the first few hundred. Saying them to someone who speaks Danish is what makes them stay.

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