Slå mikrofonen fra, hvis du hoster under mødet.

Because this is a command. Danish often uses the imperative form when telling someone to do something.

• slå = imperative of at slå
• du slår = you hit/you switch in the present tense, not a command

So:

• Slå mikrofonen fra = Turn the microphone off
• Du slår mikrofonen fra = You turn the microphone off

In commands, Danish usually leaves out the subject du, just like English often does.

Mikrofonen is the definite form: the microphone.

In Danish, definiteness is often added as an ending:

• en mikrofon = a microphone
• mikrofonen = the microphone

Here, the sentence refers to the microphone that is already understood in the situation, so the definite form is natural.

Because slå fra is a verb + particle combination, similar to English turn off.

So:

• slå ... fra = switch/turn ... off

The object often goes between the verb and the particle:

• Slå mikrofonen fra
• literally: Switch the microphone off

This is very common in Danish. Compare:

• tage ... på = put on
• skrive ... ned = write down
• slukke ... for = turn off

Historically, slå often means hit/strike, but in many expressions it has a broader meaning. In this sentence, slå mikrofonen fra means turn/switch the microphone off, not physically hit it.

Danish has many fixed expressions where the literal meaning is not the best guide. It is best to learn slå fra here as a set phrase.

Hvis means if, so it introduces a condition:

• Slå mikrofonen fra, hvis du hoster = Turn the microphone off if you cough

If the speaker wanted to say something closer to whenever/when, Danish might use når instead.

Very roughly:

• hvis = if
• når = when/whenever

In this sentence, the idea is conditional advice or instruction, so hvis fits well.

Hoster is the present tense form of the verb at hoste.

• at hoste = to cough
• hoster = cough / are coughing

After du, Danish uses the present tense form:

• du hoster = you cough / you are coughing

Danish present tense is often used in places where English might say either cough or are coughing, depending on context.

Because in Danish subordinate clauses, the subject normally comes before the verb.

So:

• hvis du hoster = correct
• hvis hoster du = incorrect

This is one of the important differences between main clauses and subordinate clauses in Danish.

Main clause example:

• Du hoster under mødet.

Subordinate clause example:

• hvis du hoster under mødet

Because mødet means the meeting.

• et møde = a meeting
• mødet = the meeting

Under mødet means during the meeting. Danish often uses the definite form in expressions like this when the event is specific or understood from context.

Not exactly.

• under mødet usually means during the meeting
• i mødet can sometimes mean in the meeting, but it is less natural in this exact sentence

For talking about something happening during the course of an event, under mødet is very natural.

It is neutral and natural. It works well in spoken and written Danish, especially in workplace or online-meeting contexts.

It is a direct instruction, so it is not especially soft or polite, but it is not rude either. If you wanted to make it softer, you could add something like:

• Kan du slå mikrofonen fra, hvis du hoster under mødet?
• Vil du være sød at slå mikrofonen fra, hvis du hoster under mødet?

But the original sentence is perfectly normal for practical instructions.

Yes, in many contexts Danish can also use sluk mikrofonen or slå lyden fra, depending on exactly what is meant.

However, there can be small differences:

• slå mikrofonen fra = turn the microphone off / mute the microphone
• sluk mikrofonen = switch off the microphone
• slå lyden fra = mute the sound

In online meeting language, slå mikrofonen fra is very natural for mute your microphone.

The sentence has two parts:

1. Slå mikrofonen fra

   • imperative verb: Slå
   • object: mikrofonen
   • particle: fra

2. hvis du hoster under mødet

   • conjunction: hvis
   • subject: du
   • verb: hoster
   • time expression: under mødet

So the pattern is:

[Command], hvis [condition].

That is a very common Danish structure.