Breakdown of Vi har brug for mere mælk.
mælken
the milk
vi
we
mere
more / anymore (with a negative)
have brug for
to need
Questions & Answers about Vi har brug for mere mælk.
Why are there three words (har brug for) for just "need"?
In Danish, "to need" is usually expressed with a phrase rather than a single verb. Har brug for literally translates to "have use for." Whenever you want to say you need a noun (like milk), you will use this three-word combination.
What does the word brug mean on its own?
By itself, brug is a noun that means "use" or "need." You might also see it as the root of the verb meaning "to use" (at bruge). In this sentence, it acts as a noun inside the fixed phrase har brug for.
Can I just use a single Danish verb for "need" instead?
There is a single verb, behøver, but it is mostly used in negative sentences (like "we don't need..."). For everyday positive statements like "we need more milk," har brug for is the most natural and common choice.
Is mere always the word for "more"?
Mere is used for uncountable things you cannot easily count, like mælk (milk), water, or time. If you are talking about "more" of something you can count individually, like apples or dogs, you must use the word flere instead.