Start Danish the Easy Way (A1–A2)
Your first goal isn’t perfection—it’s communication. For beginners, focus on the top 500–800 words and the most common phrases. These give you coverage for everyday topics: greetings, numbers, food, directions, money, and small talk.
Keep your setup light. Choose one core course, one audio source, and one deck or word list. That’s all you need to begin. Aim for consistency over intensity: even 10–15 minutes daily beats a single long session each week.
- Pick one beginner course and finish it once before adding more.
- Set a tiny daily target: 10 minutes listening, 5 minutes speaking.
- Track wins: words learned, minutes studied, dialogues completed.
- Repeat yesterday’s material before adding new content.
Sound Right: Danish Pronunciation in Minutes
Danish sounds can feel slippery, but you can tame them with a few high-value habits. Watch for soft d, the r, and the stød (a little glottal catch). Prioritize understanding first: if you can hear the difference, you can learn to say it.
Use shadowing: listen to a short clip and repeat immediately, copying rhythm and melody. Record yourself and compare. Five focused minutes of shadowing daily will improve clarity fast.
- Practice minimal pairs: tak vs. tag, hun vs. hund.
- Exaggerate rhythm, then relax into natural speed.
- Keep vowels short and tight; avoid adding English schwa sounds.
- Repeat names, numbers, and street words you hear online.
Must-Know Words and Phrases for Real Life
Memorize a tiny toolkit of phrases you’ll use every day. Plug words into these patterns to multiply what you can say. Learning set phrases also teaches grammar naturally, without heavy study.
Start with greetings, polite requests, and quick fixes for when you don’t understand. These keep conversations moving while you’re still a beginner.
- Hej! Goddag! – Hi! Good day!
- Jeg hedder … / Jeg er … – My name is … / I am …
- Jeg vil gerne have … – I would like …
- Hvad betyder det? – What does that mean?
- Kan du sige det langsommere? – Can you say that slower?
- Hvor meget koster det? – How much does it cost?
10–20 Minutes a Day: Your Free Study Plan
Consistency wins. Use this mini routine to build listening, speaking, and vocab without burnout. Keep sessions short and stack them when you have more time.
If you have extra minutes, add a second micro-session later in the day. The more often you touch the language, the faster you’ll remember it—no marathon studying needed.
- Minutes 0–3: Review yesterday’s 10 words or one dialogue.
- Minutes 3–10: Listen to a short clip and shadow once or twice.
- Minutes 10–15: Drill 5 new words in a spaced-repetition deck.
- Optional minutes 15–20: Read a short text and whisper-read out loud.
- Weekly: One longer session to write 5 sentences and get quick corrections online.
Best Free Online Resources and pdf Printables
You can learn effectively with free online tools if you stay focused. Use one resource for each skill and avoid hopping around. Save pdf lists for offline study so you can review anywhere.
Mix input (listening and reading) with output (speaking and writing). That balance helps you understand real speech and answer confidently.
- Audio and video: beginner playlists, slow news, and short dialogues.
- Vocabulary: spaced-repetition decks with audio; export a pdf word list weekly.
- Pronunciation: clips featuring minimal pairs and sentence shadowing.
- Reading: graded texts; screenshot or print a pdf page for annotation.
- Writing and feedback: free language forums or exchange partners online.
FAQ
- Can I learn Danish free online as a beginner?
- Yes. Combine one free course, short listening clips, and a spaced-repetition deck. Add printable pdf checklists for weekly goals. With 10–20 minutes a day, beginners can cover A1 basics quickly.
- How long to reach A1 or A2 if I study a few minutes daily?
- With 15 minutes a day, many learners reach A1 in 6–8 weeks and A2 in 4–6 months. Double your daily minutes or add weekend reviews to speed it up. Consistency matters more than total hours.
- Do I need to learn grammar first?
- No. You don’t need a grammar-first approach. Start with phrases and short dialogues, then notice patterns. Use quick grammar lookups only when confusion blocks you. Form follows frequent examples.
- What are the hardest Danish sounds for beginners?
- Soft d, the r, and stød can be tricky. Focus on hearing them in slow audio, then shadow. Record yourself for 2 minutes, compare, and adjust. Clarity improves faster than you expect.
- How can I practice speaking if I’m learning alone?
- Shadow short clips daily, read dialogues out loud, and leave voice messages for exchange partners online. Create 5 sentence templates and swap in new words. Small, daily speaking keeps momentum high.