How to read and say Danish

Alphabet

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V (W) X Y Z Æ Ø Å a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v (w) x y z æ ø å

Acute accent may be used in some words (eg fór), for ease of reading, but it's always optional. C, Q, W, X and Z are only used in loanwords. V and W are treated the same, and W is sometimes left out of the alphabet.

Vowels

a as in cat
e as in sin, but also as æ and murder
i as in see, only shorter
o as in no, but also as å
u as in soon, but also as å
y as in few, but also as ø
æ as in egg, only shorter
ø as mayor, but also as in bird
å as in old, but also caught; sometimes written aa

Consonants

b as in bed, and wick between vowels and at the end of words
c as k, but sing before e or i

d as in dead, the after vowels, silent after l, n or r and before t or s
f as in ferry
g as in ­gone, but like y as in yet after a vowel
h as in hope, hv = v, hj = j
j as in yes
k as in kick, and go between vowels and at the end of a syllable
l as in lake
m as in many
n as in near
p as in parry, bit between vowels and at the end of a syllable
qu like English
r is a rolling sound at the back of the throat, silent after vowels and before consonants
s as in smell
t as in trout and dog between vowels, at the end of a syllable and at the end of a word
v as in viking, and hoot at the end of words