Questions & Answers about Goddag, hr. Jensen.
Why is hr. written with a lowercase letter?
In Danish, titles like hr. (Mr.) and fru (Mrs.) are written with a lowercase letter unless they are the first word in a sentence. This is a standard punctuation rule that differs from English.
Is it common to address someone as hr. Jensen in Denmark today?
No, Denmark has a very informal culture. You will almost always use first names, even with your boss or doctor. Using a title and last name like hr. Jensen sounds quite formal or old-fashioned, though it might be used out of respect for elderly people or in highly formal letters.
What word does hr. actually stand for?
It is an abbreviation of herre, which means gentleman, sir, or master. You might recognize it from the plural herrer used on men's restroom doors.
How formal is Goddag compared to other Danish greetings?
While not as stiff as using a last name, Goddag is a bit more formal than saying Hej. You will often hear it when entering a shop, answering a business phone call, or greeting someone you do not know well.
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