Frokosten består ofte af lette retter som salat og brød.

Lunch often consists of light dishes such as salad and bread.

Breakdown of Frokosten består ofte af lette retter som salat og brød.

• og: and
• af: of
• bestå: to consist
• brødet: the bread
• ofte: often
• frokosten: the lunch
• let: light
• retten: the dish
• som: as
• salaten: the salad

Questions & Answers about Frokosten består ofte af lette retter som salat og brød.

Why do we use Frokosten (with -en) and not just Frokost?

The word Frokosten is the definite form, meaning the lunch. In Danish, adding -en (or -et, depending on the word) to the end of a noun makes it definite. Without the -en suffix, Frokost simply means lunch (indefinite).

What does består ofte af literally translate to?

Består comes from the verb at bestå, which means to consist of. So består ofte af literally translates to consists often of. In everyday usage, it means that something is frequently made up of or includes certain elements.

Why is lette used in lette retter?

Let is the Danish adjective meaning light (as in not heavy). When describing plural nouns, you typically add -e to the adjective, turning let into lette. Hence, lette retter means light dishes.

What is the function of som in this sentence?

In this context, som functions like as or such as in English. It introduces examples of what the lette retter might include, namely salat and brød.

How would you pronounce består?

In Danish, består is pronounced somewhat like beh-STOR. Pay attention to the soft r at the end, which can sound slightly guttural depending on regional accents.

Is there any difference in usage between af and fra in Danish?

Yes. Af generally corresponds to of or from in the sense of something consisting of or coming from something else. Fra typically translates to from in the sense of movement or direction (leaving a place, moving away). In the sentence, består af fits because it indicates what the lunch is made up of.