Sluk for komfuret, før du forlader køkkenet.

Turn off the stove before you leave the kitchen.

Breakdown of Sluk for komfuret, før du forlader køkkenet.

• køkkenet: the kitchen
• før: before
• du: you
• forlade: to leave
• slukke for: to turn off
• komfuret: the stove

Questions & Answers about Sluk for komfuret, før du forlader køkkenet.

Why is it Sluk and not slukke?

Sluk is the imperative (command form) of the verb at slukke (to turn off / extinguish).

• Infinitive: (at) slukke
• Imperative: Sluk!
  So Sluk for komfuret = Turn off the stove.

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What does sluk for mean, and why is for there?

In Danish you often say slukke for + [device/appliance] when you mean turning something off (electricity/gas, etc.).

• slukke for lyset = turn off the light
• slukke for radioen = turn off the radio
• slukke for komfuret = turn off the stove

You may also see sluk komfuret in some contexts, but sluk for is extremely common and natural with appliances.

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Why is it komfuret and not komfur?

komfuret is the definite form: the stove. Danish often uses the definite form where English uses the.

• Indefinite: et komfur = a stove
• Definite: komfuret = the stove

Same pattern later: køkkenet = the kitchen.

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What gender is komfur, and how can I tell?

komfur is neuter (et-word): et komfur. In the definite form, most neuter nouns take -et, so komfur → komfuret.
This -et ending is a strong clue that the noun is usually an et-word.

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Why is there a comma before før?

Because før introduces a subordinate clause (before you leave the kitchen). In Danish, it’s standard to place a comma before subordinate clauses:
Sluk for komfuret, før du forlader køkkenet.

(Some writing styles use optional comma rules, but this comma is very common and recommended for learners.)

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Does før always mean before, and is it a preposition or conjunction here?

før can be both:

• Preposition: før klokken 8 = before 8 o’clock
• Conjunction: før du forlader køkkenet = before you leave the kitchen

In your sentence it’s a conjunction because it’s followed by a full clause (du forlader køkkenet).

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Why is the word order før du forlader køkkenet and not something like før forlader du?

In Danish main clauses typically have V2 word order (the verb in the second position), but subordinate clauses do not follow V2 in the same way.
In subordinate clauses, the subject usually comes before the verb:

• Subordinate clause: før du forlader køkkenet (subject du
  • verb forlader)
    Not: før forlader du ... (that would sound like main-clause word order and is wrong here).

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Why is it forlader (present tense) and not a future form?

Danish often uses the present tense to talk about the future when the time relationship is clear from words like før (before):
før du forlader køkkenet literally “before you leave the kitchen,” but it naturally refers to a future action.

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Is forlade the same as gå? Why use forlader?

at forlade means to leave (a place) and is neutral/formal enough for instructions.
at gå means to walk/go, and doesn’t necessarily mean “leave” (you could gå i køkkenet = go into the kitchen).
So forlade køkkenet is precise: it means exiting/going away from the kitchen.

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Why is it køkkenet with -et?

køkken is also a neuter (et) noun:

• et køkken = a kitchen
• køkkenet = the kitchen

Again, the -et definite ending matches an et-word.

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How would I make this more polite, like “Please turn off the stove…”?

A common polite version adds venligst (please) or uses a softer phrasing:

• Sluk venligst for komfuret, før du forlader køkkenet.
• Husk at slukke for komfuret, før du forlader køkkenet. = Remember to turn off the stove before you leave the kitchen.

The imperative Sluk is normal in instructions/signs; adding venligst makes it more explicitly polite.

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How is this sentence pronounced (roughly), especially sluk, før, and køkkenet?

A rough guide (Danish pronunciation varies by region):

• Sluk ≈ “slook” (short, with a dark Danish u)
• før ≈ “fur” but with a rounded vowel (Danish ø)
• køkkenet ≈ “KUH-ken-uh” (the final -et often becomes a weak “uh” sound)

If you want, I can provide an IPA transcription for a specific accent (e.g., Copenhagen).