With only around 6 million native speakers worldwide, Danish might not be among the world’s most widespread languages. Some even find learning Danish not very necessary, as many Danes also speak English quite well.
Nevertheless, Danish is still a language well worth learning, and in this article, we will take a look at some of the reasons why.
It is fairly easy to learn
Danish grammar is relatively simple to master and with no case system or verb conjugations to worry about can be learned very quickly. The main challenge for foreigners usually is the pronunciation, but even that is not impossible with some practice and training.
If you learn Danish, you will be able to understand 2 other languages ‘for free’
Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish are highly mutually intelligible. While there can be some challenges due to regional accents and dialects most Norwegians, Swedes and Danes can communicate without any knowledge of the other languages. And with just a little bit of extra learning, you can be fluent in three languages with very little extra effort.
Just because the Danes can speak English doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy for them
It is easy to assume that because most Danes understand a lot of English that they can express themselves as easily in English as they can in Danish. This is, however, not necessarily always the case.
Whether you are in Denmark for business or for pleasure, speaking a little Danish will go a long way as it will be a nicer way of approaching someone or asking for help.
Traveling in Denmark will be easier and more fun
Denmark is one of the most attractive countries in the world with picturesque villages and great nature. If you visit it once, there is a high chance you will fall in love with it and want to come back – or even move there (see the next point).
If you speak the local language, it will be much easier to get around, get off the beaten tourist path, and become friendly with the locals.
Denmark is a great country to live in
Denmark is a country with a high quality of life and provides people with a great healthcare system, education and work opportunities. If you are planning to move to another country, Denmark is well worth considering.
Naturally, if you want to live and work in Denmark, knowledge of the Danish language is often necessary to find a job, get around easier, make friends, and enjoy your life.
It is a fun language to learn
Danish pronunciation is beautifully weird, and although mastering it can be challenging at times, you will also have a lot of fun learning it. It is also a great way of making people laugh when they hear you speak, as to many people Danish often sounds like you are trying to speak with a hot potato in your mouth.
It is a great puzzle for your brain
Learning any foreign language presents certain challenges, be it a highly complex grammar, or unusual pronunciation. But dealing with such challenges is actually good for your brain and helps it stay young and alert much longer. So, why not learn Danish, this beautifully weird, highly underrated language?