Blyanten er sort og spids.

The pencil is black and sharp.

Breakdown of Blyanten er sort og spids.

• og: and
• være: to be
• blyanten: the pencil
• sort: black
• spids: sharp

Questions & Answers about Blyanten er sort og spids.

Why does the sentence use blyanten instead of en blyant?

In Danish, adding -en to blyant makes it a definite noun (like using the in English). Blyanten means the pencil, whereas en blyant means a pencil.

What does er mean in this context?

Er is the Danish equivalent of the English verb is/are. In this sentence, it simply states that the pencil is something, i.e., that it has certain qualities.

Why is it sort og spids and not sort og spids with any other endings?

When adjectives follow the verb (known as predicate adjectives), they usually remain in their basic form. There’s no definite ending added here. If those adjectives were placed before a noun in definite form, you might see different endings (for example, den sorte og spidse blyant).

Is sort the most common word for black in Danish?

Yes, sort is the go-to adjective for black. In older or more poetic Danish, you might encounter other words, but sort is by far the most common.

How can I practice pronouncing blyanten and spids correctly?

Focus on the soft d in blyanten (the t often sounds softer/dental in Danish) and the s at the end of spids hisses more strongly than an English s. Listening to native speakers and repeating each word slowly will help you master these sounds.