Yes, please — and thank you
Danish has no word for please. You say yes with ja tak — yes, thanks — and no with nej tak:
| Would you like coffee? — Yes, please. | Vil du have kaffe? — Ja tak. |
After a meal, every Dane says tak for mad, thanks for the food — to the cook, at home as well as out:
| Thank you for the meal! | Tak for mad! |
In the shop
| Danish | English |
|---|---|
| kan jeg hjælpe dig | can I help you? |
| jeg kigger bare | I'm just looking |
| have åbent | to be open |
| på udsalg | on sale |
| Can I help you? — No, thank you, I am just looking. | Kan jeg hjælpe dig? — Nej tak, jeg kigger bare. |
| The shop is open until six o'clock. | Butikken har åbent til klokken seks. |
Asking nicely
Instead of please, a request can start with være så venlig + at:
| Please be so kind as to speak slowly. | Vær så venlig at tale langsomt. |
Suggestions
lad os + a bare verb is let's, and hvorfor ikke is the friendly yes:
| Let's eat now. | Lad os spise nu. |
| Shall we go to the cinema? — Why not? | Skal vi gå i biografen? — Hvorfor ikke? |
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