Whenever you narrate events, give directions, or lay out an argument step by step, you need sequential connectives: first, then, next, after that, finally. Danish has a clean set for ordering things in time (først, så, dernæst, derefter, til sidst, endelig) and a separate set for enumerating points in an argument (for det første, for det andet, for det tredje). All of them are adverbs, so when they open a sentence they trigger V2 inversion (Først går vi...). And there is one error English speakers reliably make: you cannot translate "firstly" as a bare *første — Danish needs for det første or først. This page sorts it all out.
The temporal sequence: først, så, dernæst, derefter
These connectives order actions in time, the bread and butter of recipes, directions, and storytelling. Each is an adverb; fronted, each inverts the verb. See the general rule at syntax/v2-rule.
| Word | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| først | first, at first | neutral |
| så | then, next | informal–neutral |
| dernæst | next, after that | neutral–formal |
| derefter | after that, thereafter | neutral–formal |
| bagefter | afterwards | neutral |
| til sidst | finally, in the end | neutral |
| endelig | finally, at last (often with relief) | neutral |
| omsider | at last (after a long wait) | neutral–formal |
Først skærer du løget. Så svitser du det i lidt olie.
First you chop the onion. Then you fry it in a little oil.
Vi mødtes på stationen. Derefter gik vi ud at spise.
We met at the station. After that, we went out to eat.
Dernæst tilsætter du mælken og rører rundt.
Next, you add the milk and stir.
Watch the inversion in each: Først skærer du, Så svitser du, Derefter gik vi, Dernæst tilsætter du — verb second, subject third. This sequencing-with-inversion is exactly the rhythm of Danish recipes and instructions; see sentences/giving-instructions.
til sidst vs. endelig vs. omsider — three "finally"s
These three all translate as "finally," but they differ:
- til sidst — neutral "last in the sequence; in the end." The default for closing a list of steps.
- endelig — "finally, at last," often carrying relief that something long-awaited happened.
- omsider — "at last," stressing that it took a long, sometimes frustrating, time.
Til sidst hælder du saucen over og serverer.
Finally, you pour the sauce over and serve. (last step)
Efter to timers ventetid kom bussen endelig.
After two hours of waiting, the bus finally came. (relief)
Han svarede omsider på min mail.
He answered my email at last. (after a long delay)
The enumerator: for det første, for det andet...
This is the part English speakers get wrong. To list points in an argument ("firstly, secondly, thirdly"), Danish uses a fixed phrasal enumerator built on the ordinals: for det første, for det andet, for det tredje, and so on. You cannot use a bare ordinal like *første on its own to mean "firstly." The ordinals themselves are covered at numbers/ordinals.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| for det første | firstly, in the first place |
| for det andet | secondly |
| for det tredje | thirdly |
| for det fjerde | fourthly |
Like all the others, these phrases are adverbial and invert the verb when fronted (the whole phrase fills the first slot):
Jeg tager ikke med. For det første har jeg ikke tid. For det andet er det for dyrt.
I'm not coming. Firstly, I don't have time. Secondly, it's too expensive.
For det første er forslaget ulovligt, og for det andet er det for dyrt.
Firstly, the proposal is illegal, and secondly, it's too expensive.
Temporal først vs. enumerative for det første
This is the key insight to lock in. Først orders things in time ("first, before the next thing"). For det første orders arguments or reasons ("the first point in my case"). They are not interchangeable.
Først ringede jeg til ham, og bagefter sendte jeg en mail.
First I called him, and afterwards I sent an email. (time sequence)
For det første ringede jeg aldrig til ham.
Firstly, I never called him. (first point in an argument)
Use først for steps in a process; use for det første for items in a list of reasons.
Putting several together
Here is a connected stretch — first a recipe-style temporal chain, then an argument-style enumeration:
Først koger du pastaen. Imens laver du saucen. Derefter blander du det hele. Til sidst drysser du ost over.
First you boil the pasta. Meanwhile you make the sauce. After that you mix it all together. Finally you sprinkle cheese on top.
Vi bør udskyde mødet. For det første er halvdelen syge. For det andet er rapporten ikke færdig. Til sidst mangler vi stadig tallene.
We should postpone the meeting. Firstly, half the team is sick. Secondly, the report isn't done. Finally, we're still missing the figures.
Note how til sidst comfortably closes an enumerated list too, not just a temporal one.
Common Mistakes
1. Using a bare ordinal for "firstly" (the signature error from English).
❌ Første, jeg har ikke tid.
Incorrect — a bare ordinal can't mean 'firstly'.
✅ For det første har jeg ikke tid.
Firstly, I don't have time.
✅ Først har jeg ikke tid. (if a loose 'first off' in speech)
First off, I don't have time.
2. Forgetting inversion after a fronted sequential adverb.
❌ Først du skærer løget.
Incorrect — fronted adverb requires the verb second.
✅ Først skærer du løget.
First you chop the onion.
3. No inversion after the enumerator phrase.
❌ For det andet det er for dyrt.
Incorrect — the whole phrase is fronted, so the verb must come next.
✅ For det andet er det for dyrt.
Secondly, it's too expensive.
4. Mixing up temporal først and enumerative for det første.
❌ Først er forslaget ulovligt, og dernæst er det dyrt. (when listing arguments)
Awkward — dernæst/først are temporal; for arguments use for det første/andet.
✅ For det første er forslaget ulovligt, og for det andet er det dyrt.
Firstly, the proposal is illegal, and secondly, it's expensive.
Key takeaways
- Temporal order: først, så, dernæst, derefter, bagefter, til sidst, endelig, omsider — all adverbs, all invert when fronted.
- Three "finally"s: til sidst (neutral), endelig (relief), omsider (after a long wait).
- Enumerating arguments uses the fixed phrase for det første / for det andet / for det tredje — never a bare ordinal — and these phrases invert too.
- Keep temporal først (steps in time) distinct from enumerative for det første (points in an argument).
- For sequencing in instructions see sentences/giving-instructions; for the ordinals themselves see numbers/ordinals.
Now practice Danish
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Start learning Danish→Related Topics
- Discourse Markers: An OverviewB1 — How Danish connectives structure text and argument — and the crucial word-order split between adverbs, coordinators, and subordinators.
- Causal and Result ConnectivesB1 — Danish words that mark cause and consequence — derfor, således, dermed, derved, af den grund — all adverbs that trigger V2 inversion, unlike the subordinator fordi.
- Giving InstructionsA2 — Build instructions in Danish — the bare-stem imperative for spoken directions, the -s passive for written/impersonal steps, the sequencing words (først, så, derefter, til sidst), and Husk at ... for reminders.
- Ordinal NumbersA2 — Danish ordinals from første to tiende and beyond — the suppletive low forms, the regular -ende/-te pattern, the anden/andet gender agreement, and how ordinals are written with a period and used in dates.
- The V2 Rule: Verb SecondA1 — The core rule of Danish main clauses: the finite verb stands in second position, with exactly one constituent before it — and the subject inverts when anything else is fronted.