Lyden er skarp, så jeg lukker vinduet.

The sound is sharp, so I close the window.

Breakdown of Lyden er skarp, så jeg lukker vinduet.

• jeg: I
• være: to be
• vinduet: the window
• så: so
• lyden: the sound
• lukke: to close
• skarp: sharp

Questions & Answers about Lyden er skarp, så jeg lukker vinduet.

Why does lyd become lyden here?

-en is the definite suffix for many common-gender nouns in Danish.

• en lyd = a sound
• lyden = the sound

So Lyden er skarp is literally The sound is sharp.

What does skarp mean in this context, and is it a common collocation?

skarp literally means sharp and is commonly used metaphorically for sounds, just like in English:

• en skarp lyd = a sharp/piercing sound
  You might also hear related adjectives depending on nuance: høj (loud), skinger (shrill), gennemtrængende (penetrating).

Why is it Lyden er skarp and not something like Lyden er skarpt?

Because skarp is an adjective describing the noun lyden (a common-gender noun). In Danish, predicate adjectives agree with gender/number:

• common gender singular: skarp
• neuter singular: skarpt (e.g., Et signal er skarpt)
• plural: skarpe (e.g., Lyde er skarpe)

What role does så play in ..., så jeg lukker vinduet?

Here så means so/therefore and introduces a consequence:
The sound is sharp, so I close the window.
It’s not the temporal så meaning then (though Danish så can also mean that in other contexts).

Why is the word order så jeg lukker vinduet and not så lukker jeg vinduet?

Both can be correct, but they emphasize slightly different structures:

1) ..., så jeg lukker vinduet.

• så behaves like a conjunction meaning so, and the clause often keeps normal main-clause order (subject before verb): jeg lukker.

2) ..., så lukker jeg vinduet.

• Here så is often felt more like an adverb meaning then/so, and Danish main clauses typically use V2 word order (finite verb in position 2), giving lukker jeg.

In practice, both occur; many learners find så lukker jeg ... especially common in spoken Danish.

Why is there a comma before så?

Because the sentence consists of two clauses:

• Lyden er skarp (clause 1)
• så jeg lukker vinduet (clause 2)

Danish commonly uses a comma to separate clauses, especially when one clause follows another as a consequence.

What tense is lukker, and how would I say I am closing or I closed?

lukker is present tense of at lukke (to close/shut). It can mean:

• I close / I’m closing (context decides)

Past tense:

• jeg lukkede vinduet = I closed the window

Perfect:

• jeg har lukket vinduet = I have closed the window

Why is it vinduet and not vindue?

vindue is a neuter noun: et vindue = a window.
The definite form takes -et:

• et vindue = a window
• vinduet = the window

So jeg lukker vinduet means I close the window (a specific one).

Is lukke the same as at stænge?

They overlap, but usage differs:

• at lukke = to close/shut (very general: doors, windows, boxes, apps, eyes, etc.)
• at stænge = to shut/close (often sounds a bit stronger or more formal; also used in fixed expressions like butikken er stængt = the shop is closed)

For a window, lukke is the most neutral, common choice.

Could I replace Lyden with Støjen? What’s the difference?

Yes, but it changes nuance:

• lyden = the sound (neutral; could be pleasant or unpleasant)
• støjen = the noise (typically unpleasant/annoying)

So Støjen er skarp, så jeg lukker vinduet suggests it’s specifically noise rather than just a sound.

How is this sentence pronounced (especially lyden, skarp, vinduet)?

A rough guide (varies by accent):

• lyden: the y is a front rounded vowel (not English oo or ee), and d here is often a soft Danish d (very light).
• skarp: sk is like sk in English sky; the a is fairly open.
• vinduet: stress on vin-; the ending -uet is reduced in fast speech, often sounding like a quick, softened ending rather than clearly separated syllables.