Jeg tænker på fødselsdagen, mens jeg lytter til rolig musik.

I think about the birthday while I listen to calm music.

Breakdown of Jeg tænker på fødselsdagen, mens jeg lytter til rolig musik.

• jeg: I
• til: to
• musikken: the music
• lytte: to listen
• mens: while
• rolig: calm
• fødselsdagen: the birthday
• tænke: to think

Questions & Answers about Jeg tænker på fødselsdagen, mens jeg lytter til rolig musik.

Why do we say "tænker på" instead of "tænker om" or something else?

In Danish, the verb tænke often pairs with the preposition på to express the idea of "thinking about" something or someone. So tænker på is the standard construction, whereas something like tænker om isn't a natural way to convey that meaning in Danish.

Why is "mens" used in this sentence?

The word mens means "while" in Danish. It links two actions or clauses that occur simultaneously. Here, it connects jeg tænker på fødselsdagen and jeg lytter til rolig musik, showing they happen at the same time.

Why is it "rolig musik" and not "rolige musik"?

Danish adjectives typically match the gender and number of the noun they describe. With uncountable nouns like musik, you usually use the singular indefinite form of the adjective, which is rolig. The form rolige would be used for plural or definite nouns instead.

Is there a difference between "høre musik" and "lytte til musik"?

Yes. Høre is more general and can just mean "to hear" something. Lytte til places focus on actively listening. So in jeg lytter til rolig musik, you’re emphasizing that you’re paying attention to and focusing on the music, not simply hearing it as background noise.