Hello Everyone!
Shopping and ordering at cafés might seem like small everyday tasks, but they are actually great opportunities to practice speaking Danish! Whether it’s ordering a coffee, asking about prices, or making small talk with the cashier, using Danish in these situations can boost your confidence and help you feel more integrated into daily life.
Do you try to order in Danish when at cafés or shops?
How comfortable are you with using Danish in these situations?
Do you ever switch to English when it gets tricky?
Have you had any funny or awkward experiences trying to speak Danish while shopping?
Useful Danish phrases for everyday transactions:
What Danish phrases do you find most helpful when ordering food, paying at a store, or asking for help? See below for some examples on key phrases:
At a store/café:
“Jeg vil gerne have en kop kaffe, tak." – "I would like a cup of coffee, please."
"Hvad koster det?" – "How much does it cost?"
When paying:
"Kan jeg betale med kort?" – "Can I pay with a card?"
"Må jeg få bonen?" – "May I have the receipt?"
Asking for help:
"Undskyld, kan du hjælpe mig?" – "Excuse me, can you help me?"
"Har I dette i en anden størrelse?" – "Do you have this in another size?"
Have you noticed any specific ways Danes interact in these situations that are different from your home country?
Challenge:
Next time you go to a café or shop, try using only Danish! Then, come back and share how it went. Did the cashier respond in Danish or switch to English? How did it feel?
Let’s share our experiences and tips to make small talk and shopping in Danish easier for everyone and encourage others who are nervous to begin!
Alison, OLS Community Manager - Danish