Diskussionsspørgsmålet nævner temaet.

Because Danish normally writes compound nouns as a single word.

So:

• diskussion = discussion
• spørgsmål = question
• diskussionsspørgsmål = discussion question

Then the definite ending is added:

• diskussionsspørgsmålet = the discussion question

This is very common in Danish. English often uses several words where Danish prefers one compound word.

The -et is the definite article attached to the noun. In Danish, the is often added to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word.

Here the head noun is spørgsmål, and it is a neuter noun:

• et spørgsmål = a question
• spørgsmålet = the question

The same happens in the full compound:

• et diskussionsspørgsmål = a discussion question
• diskussionsspørgsmålet = the discussion question

So -et here means the.

That -s- is a linking sound used in many Danish compounds.

So the compound is built like this:

• diskussion
• spørgsmål
• diskussionsspørgsmål

You do not always add -s- in compounds, but it is very common. Unfortunately, it is something learners mostly have to get used to word by word. In this case, diskussionsspørgsmål is the normal form.

Because nævner is the present tense of at nævne.

In Danish, the present tense is usually formed by adding -r:

• at nævne = to mention
• nævner = mentions / is mentioning

So:

• Diskussionsspørgsmålet nævner temaet. = The discussion question mentions the theme/topic.

Unlike English, Danish does not change the present tense depending on I/you/he/we/they. The same form is used for all persons:

• jeg nævner
• du nævner
• han nævner
• vi nævner

Because temaet is the definite form: the theme/topic.

Compare:

• et tema = a theme / a topic
• temaet = the theme / the topic

So the sentence uses definite nouns on both sides:

• Diskussionsspørgsmålet = the discussion question
• temaet = the theme/topic

If you said tema instead, it would sound more like a theme or theme in a more general sense.

Because Danish usually marks definiteness with an ending on the noun.

So instead of a separate article before the noun, Danish often does this:

• et spørgsmål = a question

• spørgsmålet = the question

• et tema = a theme/topic
• temaet = the theme/topic

This is the normal pattern when there is no adjective before the noun.

But if there is an adjective, Danish often uses a separate definite word as well:

• temaet = the theme
• det vigtige tema = the important theme

So attached definiteness is a basic feature of Danish grammar.

No, this sentence has very straightforward word order:

• Diskussionsspørgsmålet = subject
• nævner = verb
• temaet = object

So it follows a simple subject–verb–object pattern.

That said, Danish is a verb-second language, which means the finite verb usually comes in the second position in main clauses. In this sentence, the subject comes first, so the order looks very similar to English.

In Danish compounds, the last part is usually the main noun.

So in:

• diskussionsspørgsmål

the main noun is spørgsmål = question

The first part, diskussions-, only describes what kind of question it is.

This matters because the last element controls things like:

• the basic meaning of the compound
• its grammatical gender
• the definite ending

Since spørgsmål is neuter, the compound becomes definite with -et:

• diskussionsspørgsmålet

The æ sound is a front vowel that English does not match perfectly, but it is somewhat similar to the vowel in cat for many English speakers, though not exactly the same.

A rough learner-friendly guide:

• nævner sounds approximately like NEV-ner, but with a more open Danish vowel

A few useful pronunciation notes:

• æ is a distinct Danish vowel
• the final -er in Danish is often pronounced quite lightly
• the v in words like nævne can sound softer than English learners expect

You do not need a perfect accent right away, but it helps to listen carefully to native audio because Danish pronunciation is often less phonetic than the spelling suggests.

Yes, but it is not exactly the same structure.

• diskussionsspørgsmålet = the discussion question
• diskussionens spørgsmål = the discussion's question / the question of the discussion

The compound form is usually the more natural and general way to say discussion question as a type of thing.

The possessive-style form diskussionens spørgsmål is possible, but it sounds more specific and can suggest a particular discussion whose question you are talking about.