Bageriet lukker tidligt, så vi må skynde os, hvis vi vil nå frem før bedstemor.

Bageriet means the bakery. In Danish, the definite article is usually added to the end of the noun as a suffix.

• et bageri = a bakery
• bageriet = the bakery

Because bageri is a neuter noun, its definite ending is -et.

Yes. Lukker is the present tense of at lukke (to close).

So:

• lukke = to close
• lukker = closes / is closing

Danish often uses the present tense where English might also use present tense for a scheduled or near-future event:

• Bageriet lukker tidligt = The bakery closes early

Here tidligt is an adverb, meaning early.

It comes from the adjective tidlig (early), and Danish often adds -t when an adjective is used adverbially.

• en tidlig morgen = an early morning
• han kom tidligt = he arrived early

So in this sentence, lukker tidligt means closes early.

Here så means so, in the sense of therefore / as a result.

The structure is:

• Bageriet lukker tidligt = The bakery closes early
• så vi må skynde os = so we have to hurry

This så connects two main clauses.

Må is the present tense of at måtte. In this sentence, it means must, have to, or need to.

• vi må = we must / we have to

So:

• vi må skynde os = we have to hurry

Be aware that må can sometimes also mean may / be allowed to, but here the context clearly gives the meaning must / have to.

Because the usual expression is at skynde sig, which is a reflexive verb meaning to hurry.

The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject:

• jeg skynder mig = I hurry
• du skynder dig = you hurry
• han/hun skynder sig = he/she hurries
• vi skynder os = we hurry
• I skynder jer = you hurry
• de skynder sig = they hurry

So vi må skynde os literally means we must hurry ourselves, but in natural English just we have to hurry.

Because hvis introduces a subordinate clause.

In Danish subordinate clauses, word order is different from main clauses. The subject usually comes before the finite verb:

• hvis vi vil nå frem = if we want to arrive

Compare:

• Main clause: Vi vil nå frem
• Subordinate clause: hvis vi vil nå frem

So this is normal subordinate-clause word order.

At nå frem is a fixed expression meaning to arrive, to get there, or literally to reach forward / reach one’s destination.

• nå by itself often means reach
• nå frem means reach the destination / arrive

So:

• vi vil nå frem = we want to arrive / get there

This is a very common expression in Danish.

Yes, vil is the present tense of at ville, and here it means want to.

So:

• vi vil nå frem = we want to arrive

In some contexts vil can also be used more like will, but in this sentence the meaning is clearly want to.

Før means before, so før bedstemor means before grandmother / before Grandma.

There is no article because Danish often uses family words without an article, especially when referring to a specific relative in a familiar way.

So bedstemor here works a bit like Grandma in English.

Compare:

• før bedstemor = before Grandma
• før min bedstemor = before my grandmother

Both are possible, but the version without min sounds more direct and natural in many contexts.

Good question. Both structures can exist in Danish, but here så is being used as a coordinating conjunction meaning so, linking two main clauses:

• Bageriet lukker tidligt, så vi må skynde os

That gives normal main-clause word order after så:

• vi må

If så were used more like an adverb in the first position of a clause, then inversion could happen:

• Så må vi skynde os = Then/So we must hurry

But in your sentence, så connects the clauses, so så vi må... is completely normal.

Because the sentence contains several clauses.

• Bageriet lukker tidligt = main clause
• så vi må skynde os = another clause linked with så
• hvis vi vil nå frem før bedstemor = subordinate clause introduced by hvis

Danish comma rules can vary a bit depending on whether someone uses traditional comma or new comma, but in learner materials you will very often see commas like this, especially before a subordinate clause such as one introduced by hvis.

No, not here.

Før usually means before in time or order. In this sentence it clearly means before Grandma arrives / before Grandma does.

If you wanted to say in front of grandmother physically, Danish would normally use something like foran bedstemor.

So:

• før bedstemor = before Grandma
• foran bedstemor = in front of Grandma

Yes, nå frem sounds very natural in everyday Danish.

You could use ankomme, but it is often a bit more formal or neutral, depending on context.

• nå frem = everyday, very common
• ankomme = arrive, often slightly more formal

So in normal spoken Danish, hvis vi vil nå frem før bedstemor sounds very idiomatic.