Word lists › Danish
The most common Danish words, in frequency order
This is a frequency-based Danish word list: words ranked by how often they actually occur in everyday text, with translations and pronunciation. Frequency-based learning means studying words in this order, so every hour goes to the words you will meet most. Learn the first 500 and you will recognise about 71% of the words in everyday Danish. That is Zipf's law, and it is why this list is in this order. The first 250 are below; Zipf teaches all 5,000.
71%of everyday Danish text is the first 500 words
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The 250 most common Danish words
| # | Word | IPA | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | være | /ˈvɛːʁə/ | verb | to be |
| 2 | i | [i] | preposition | in |
| 3 | og | [ʌ] | conjunction | and |
| 4 | en | /en/ | article | a, an; one |
| 5 | af | [a] | preposition | of |
| 6 | det | /de/ | pronoun | it, that |
| 7 | den | /dɛnˀ/ | pronoun | that, it |
| 8 | at | /ad/ | conjunction | that; to |
| 9 | have | /ˈhaːvə/ | verb | to have |
| 10 | jeg | [jɑ̈(j)] | pronoun | I |
| 11 | til | /te(l)/ | preposition | to |
| 12 | på | [pʰɔ̽] | preposition | on |
| 13 | for | /foːr/ | preposition | for; too |
| 14 | ikke | /ˈeɡə/ | adverb | not |
| 15 | med | /mɛð/ | preposition | with |
| 16 | du | [ˈd̥u] | pronoun | you (singular) |
| 17 | der | /ˈdɛːˀr/ | adverb | there; who, which |
| 18 | kunne | [ˈkʰunə] | verb | to be able to |
| 19 | så | /ˈsɔ/ | adverb | so, then |
| 20 | som | /sɔm/ | conjunction | as, like; who, which |
| 21 | vi | /vi/ | pronoun | we |
| 22 | han | /han/ | pronoun | he |
| 23 | om | [ˈʌmˀ | preposition | about; whether, if |
| 24 | skulle | [ˈsɡ̊ulə] | verb | shall, should |
| 25 | blive | /bliːə/ | verb | to become; to stay |
| 26 | fra | /fra/ | preposition | from |
| 27 | men | /meːn/ | conjunction | but |
| 28 | ved | [(ˈ)ʋeð] | preposition | at, by |
| 29 | få | [ˈfɔˀ] | verb | to get |
| 30 | ville | /vilə/ | verb | will, want to |
| 31 | nogen | [ˈnoən] | pronoun | some, any; someone, something |
| 32 | al | /al/ | pronoun | all |
| 33 | se | [ˈseˀ] | verb | to see |
| 34 | også | [ˈʌs(ə)] | adverb | also |
| 35 | hvor | /vɒˀ/ | adverb | where; how |
| 36 | min | /miːn/ | pronoun | my, mine |
| 37 | nu | /nu/ | adverb | now |
| 38 | man | /maːˀn/ | pronoun | one, people |
| 39 | komme | [ˈkʰʌmə] | verb | to come |
| 40 | god | [ˈɡ̊oˀð] | adjective | good |
| 41 | denne | [ˈd̥ɛnə] | pronoun | this |
| 42 | mange | [ˈmɑŋə] | adjective | many, a lot of |
| 43 | hvis | /ves/ | conjunction | if |
| 44 | meget | /ˈmajəð/ | adverb | very, much |
| 45 | anden | /ˈanən/ | pronoun | other, another; second |
| 46 | hun | [hun] | pronoun | she |
| 47 | sig | /saj/ | pronoun | himself, herself |
| 48 | din | /diːn/ | pronoun | your, yours |
| 49 | gøre | /ɡœrə/ | verb | to do, make |
| 50 | efter | /ˈɛfdɐ/ | preposition | after |
| 51 | gå | [ˈɡ̊ɔˀ] | verb | to go, walk |
| 52 | eller | /ˈɛlər/ | conjunction | or |
| 53 | her | /hɛr/ | adverb | here |
| 54 | hvad | [ʋæð̠˕ˠ] | pronoun | what |
| 55 | stor | /stoːˀr/ | adjective | big, large |
| 56 | ud | /uðˀ/ | adverb | out |
| 57 | år | /ɔːˀr/ | noun · neuter | year |
| 58 | godt | /ɡɔt/ | adverb | well |
| 59 | da | /da/ | conjunction | when, as |
| 60 | lige | [ˈliːə] | adverb | just, right; equal, straight |
| 61 | når | /nɒːˀ/ | conjunction | when |
| 62 | op | [ˈʌb] | adverb | up |
| 63 | over | preposition | over, above | |
| 64 | mere | /meːrə/ | adjective | more |
| 65 | ny | /nyː/ | adjective | new |
| 66 | dag | /daːˀɣ/ | noun · c | day |
| 67 | sige | [ˈsiːə] | verb | to say |
| 68 | bare | /ˈbaːrə/ | adverb | just, simply |
| 69 | dansk | /dansk/ | adjective | Danish |
| 70 | give | [ˈɡ̊iˀ] | verb | to give |
| 71 | to | [ˈtˢoˀ] | numeral | two |
| 72 | de | /di/ | pronoun | they |
| 73 | tage | /ta(ːˀ)/ | verb | to take |
| 74 | sin | pronoun | his/her own | |
| 75 | vores | [ˈʋɒ̝ːɒ̝s] | pronoun | our, ours |
| 76 | lidt | /let/ | adverb | a little |
| 77 | gang | /ɡ̊anɡ̊/ | noun · c | time, occasion |
| 78 | selv | /sɛlˀ/ | pronoun | self, oneself; even |
| 79 | måtte | /ˈmɔtə/ | verb | must, may |
| 80 | bruge | /ˈbruːə/ | verb | to use |
| 81 | finde | /fenə/ | verb | to find |
| 82 | tid | [ˈtˢiˀð] | noun · c | time |
| 83 | kun | [ˈkʰɔn] | adverb | only |
| 84 | helt | /hɛlˀt/ | adverb | completely, quite |
| 85 | lille | /lilə/ | adjective | small, little |
| 86 | deres | [ˈd̥ɛɒ̯̽s] | pronoun | their |
| 87 | end | /ɛn/ | conjunction | than |
| 88 | jo | [jo] | adverb | after all, you know; yes |
| 89 | hans | /hans/ | pronoun | his |
| 90 | ind | adverb | in | |
| 91 | lang | /lanɡ/ | adjective | long |
| 92 | arbejde | /ˈarˌbajdə/ | noun · neuter | work, job; to work |
| 93 | ja | /ja/ | interjection | yes |
| 94 | nok | [ˈnʌɡ̊] | adverb | enough, probably |
| 95 | mod | [ˈmoˀð] | preposition | toward, against |
| 96 | hel | /heːˀl/ | adjective | whole, entire |
| 97 | igen | adverb | again | |
| 98 | ingen | /ˈenɡən/ | pronoun | no one, none |
| 99 | mand | /manˀ/ | noun · c | man |
| 100 | tro | /troːˀ/ | verb | to believe, to think |
| 101 | del | [ˈd̥eˀl] | noun · c | part, portion |
| 102 | sammen | adverb | together | |
| 103 | hvordan | [ʋʌˈd̥an] | adverb | how |
| 104 | lave | /ˈlaːvə/ | verb | to make, to do |
| 105 | barn | /barn/ | noun · neuter | child |
| 106 | sted | [ˈsd̥ɛð] | noun · neuter | place |
| 107 | stå | [ˈsd̥ɔˀ] | verb | to stand |
| 108 | siden | /sidən/ | adverb | since, ago |
| 109 | under | /on(ˀ)ər/ | preposition | under, below |
| 110 | sådan | [ˈsʌd̥ən] | adverb | like this, so |
| 111 | første | /fœrstə/ | adjective | first |
| 112 | holde | [ˈhʌlə] | verb | to hold, keep |
| 113 | rigtig | /ˈrekti/ | adjective | right, correct; really |
| 114 | måske | /mɔskeː/ | adverb | maybe, perhaps |
| 115 | sætte | [ˈsɛd̥ə] | verb | to put, set |
| 116 | altid | /altid/ | adverb | always |
| 117 | dø | [ˈd̥øˀ] | verb | to die |
| 118 | gammel | /ɡaməl/ | adjective | old |
| 119 | uden | /ˈuðən/ | preposition | without |
| 120 | tak | /tak/ | noun · c | thanks |
| 121 | fordi | /fɔˈdiːˀ/ | conjunction | because |
| 122 | gerne | /ˈɡɛɐ̯nə/ | adverb | gladly, willingly |
| 123 | samme | /samə/ | adjective | same |
| 124 | vej | [ˈʋɑjˀ] | noun · c | way, road |
| 125 | før | [ˈfœ̝ɐ̯ˀ] | preposition | before |
| 126 | mellem | /mɛləm/ | preposition | between |
| 127 | tilbage | /teˈbaːjə/ | adverb | back |
| 128 | høre | /ˈhøːʁə/ | verb | to hear |
| 129 | dog | [ˈd̥ɒw] | adverb | however |
| 130 | hvilken | /ˈvelɡən/ | pronoun | which |
| 131 | kende | /ˈkɛnə/ | verb | to know |
| 132 | tænke | /tɛnkə/ | verb | to think |
| 133 | lade | [ˈlæːðə] | verb | to let |
| 134 | ret | /rɛt/ | noun · c | right; quite, rather; dish |
| 135 | sidste | /sistə/ | adjective | last |
| 136 | skrive | /skriːvə/ | verb | to write |
| 137 | følge | [ˈføljə] | verb | to follow |
| 138 | hver | /ˈvɛːˀr/ | pronoun | each |
| 139 | brug | [ˈb̥ʁuˀ] | noun · c | use |
| 140 | folk | /fɔlk/ | noun · neuter | people |
| 141 | ske | [sɡ̊eˀ] | verb | to happen |
| 142 | hold | [ˈhʌlˀ] | noun · neuter | team |
| 143 | køre | /køːrə/ | verb | to drive |
| 144 | hvorfor | /ˈvofɔ/ | adverb | why |
| 145 | kvinde | /ˈkvenə/ | noun · neuter | woman |
| 146 | hos | [hɔs] | preposition | at |
| 147 | høj | /hɔjˀ/ | adjective | high, tall; loud |
| 148 | menneske | /mɛnəskə/ | noun · neuter | human |
| 149 | stadig | /staːdi/ | adverb | still |
| 150 | by | [ˈb̥yˀ] | noun · c | town, city |
| 151 | tre | [ˈtˢʁ̥ɛˀ] | numeral | three |
| 152 | klar | [ˈkʰl̥ɑˀ] | adjective | clear; ready |
| 153 | land | /lanˀ/ | noun · neuter | country |
| 154 | ligge | [ˈleɡ̊ə] | verb | to lie |
| 155 | liv | /liːv/ | noun · neuter | life |
| 156 | lide | [ˈliːðə] | verb | to like; to suffer |
| 157 | spille | /spelə/ | verb | to play |
| 158 | ønske | [ønsɡə] | verb | to wish, to want |
| 159 | aldrig | /aldri/ | adverb | never |
| 160 | ned | /nɛð/ | adverb | down |
| 161 | hjælpe | [ˈjɛlb̥ə] | verb | to help |
| 162 | møde | [ˈmøːðə] | noun · neuter | meeting; to meet |
| 163 | både | /bɔːðə/ | conjunction | both |
| 164 | ting | /tenˀɡ/ | noun · c | thing |
| 165 | verden | [ˈʋaɐ̯d̥n̩] | noun · c | world |
| 166 | synes | [ˈsynəs] | verb | to think, to find; to seem |
| 167 | endnu | /eˈnu/ | adverb | yet, still |
| 168 | vigtig | [ˈve̝ɡ̊d̥i] | adjective | important |
| 169 | burde | /bordə/ | verb | should |
| 170 | sen | [ˈseˀn] | adjective | late |
| 171 | vise | [ˈʋiːsə] | verb | to show |
| 172 | tidlig | [ˈtˢiðli] | adjective | early |
| 173 | navn | [ˈnɑwˀn] | noun · neuter | name |
| 174 | mene | /meːnə/ | verb | to think, to mean |
| 175 | sende | [ˈsɛnə] | verb | to send |
| 176 | time | /ˈtiːmə/ | noun · neuter | hour |
| 177 | kommune | noun · neuter | municipality | |
| 178 | prøve | /prøːvə/ | verb | to try |
| 179 | virkelig | adverb | really; real | |
| 180 | penge | /pɛŋə/ | noun · c | money |
| 181 | nej | /nɛj/ | interjection | no |
| 182 | samt | /samt/ | conjunction | as well as |
| 183 | købe | [ˈkʰøːb̥ə] | verb | to buy |
| 184 | tale | /tsʰaːlə/ | verb | to speak |
| 185 | ung | [ˈɔŋˀ] | adjective | young |
| 186 | kamp | noun · c | fight, battle; match | |
| 187 | forskellig | adjective | different | |
| 188 | problem | noun · neuter | problem | |
| 189 | uge | /ˈuːə/ | noun · neuter | week |
| 190 | sikker | [ˈseɡ̊ɐ] | adjective | sure, certain; safe |
| 191 | inden | preposition | before | |
| 192 | billede | /ˈbeləðə/ | noun · neuter | picture |
| 193 | hvem | /vɛmˀ/ | pronoun | who |
| 194 | omkring | /ɔmˈkreŋ/ | preposition | around |
| 195 | plads | /plas/ | noun · c | room, space; place, square |
| 196 | sidde | [ˈseðə] | verb | to sit |
| 197 | måde | [ˈmɔːðə] | noun · neuter | way |
| 198 | slå | /slɔːˀ/ | verb | to hit |
| 199 | derfor | /ˈd̥eːˀɐ̯.foɐ̯/ | adverb | therefore |
| 200 | først | /fœrst/ | adverb | first |
| 201 | fortælle | /fɔˈtɛlˀə/ | verb | to tell |
| 202 | forstå | [fʌˈsd̥ɔˀ] | verb | to understand |
| 203 | side | /ˈsiːdə/ | noun · neuter | side; page |
| 204 | hjem | [ˈjɛmˀ] | noun · neuter | home |
| 205 | elske | /ˈɛlsɡə/ | verb | to love |
| 206 | grund | [ɡ̊ʁɔnˀ] | noun · c | reason |
| 207 | tog | /tɔː(ˀ)ɣ/ | noun · neuter | train |
| 208 | hurtig | /horti/ | adjective | quick |
| 209 | aften | /aftən/ | noun · c | evening |
| 210 | område | noun · neuter | area | |
| 211 | frem | /frɛm/ | adverb | forward |
| 212 | begynde | /beɡønə/ | verb | to begin |
| 213 | kort | /kɔrt/ | adjective | short; map, card |
| 214 | vælge | [ˈʋɛljə] | verb | to choose |
| 215 | læse | /ˈlɛːsə/ | verb | to read |
| 216 | gennem | /(i)ɡɛnˀəm/ | preposition | through |
| 217 | bog | /bɔːˀɣ/ | noun · c | book |
| 218 | familie | /faˈmilˀjə/ | noun · neuter | family |
| 219 | faktisk | /faktisk/ | adverb | actually, in fact |
| 220 | par | [ˈpʰɑ] | noun · neuter | pair |
| 221 | blandt | preposition | among | |
| 222 | mens | /mɛns/ | conjunction | while |
| 223 | næste | /nɛstə/ | adjective | next |
| 224 | fin | /fin/ | adjective | fine |
| 225 | pige | /ˈpiːə/ | noun · neuter | girl |
| 226 | egen | /ˈɑjən/ | adjective | own |
| 227 | vide | /viːðə/ | verb | to know |
| 228 | skole | /skoːlə/ | noun · neuter | school |
| 229 | lægge | [ˈlɛɡ̊ə] | verb | to lay |
| 230 | passe | verb | to fit; to look after | |
| 231 | hus | [ˈhuˀs] | noun · neuter | house |
| 232 | person | noun · c | person | |
| 233 | morgen | /ˈmɔrən/ | noun · c | morning |
| 234 | betyde | [beˈtyˀðə] | verb | to mean |
| 235 | leve | [ˈleːʋə] | verb | to live |
| 236 | altså | adverb | thus | |
| 237 | vel | /ˈvɛl/ | adverb | I suppose |
| 238 | føle | [ˈføːlə] | verb | to feel |
| 239 | huske | [ˈhusɡ̊ə] | verb | to remember |
| 240 | lov | /ˈlɔv/ | noun · c | law; permission |
| 241 | ofte | /ɔf.tə/ | adverb | often |
| 242 | historie | /histoːˀriɘ/ | noun · neuter | story; history |
| 243 | stoppe | [ˈsd̥ʌb̥ə] | verb | to stop |
| 244 | hjælp | [ˈjɛlˀb̥] | noun · c | help |
| 245 | allerede | adverb | already | |
| 246 | bil | /biːl/ | noun · c | car |
| 247 | findes | [ˈfenəs] | verb | to exist |
| 248 | bo | /boː/ | verb | to live |
| 249 | tv | noun · neuter | TV | |
| 250 | virke | verb | to work, to function; to seem |
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