This is something that actually happens to everyone from time to time, and so probably one of the most useful Danish phrases ever presented here. It is also phrase number 50! Soon you will be able to speak fluently and strangely.

It writes as follows:
I burped through my nose. | Jeg bøvsede gennem min næse.

This is another straight word-for-word translation that actually works as is. Note how the past tense is very similar, the added -ed in English becomes -ede in Danish, although the pronounciation is slightly different.

Also - because several people have requested it, you can now buy the entire two first seasons of Dare to Danish on a cd, courtesy of Lulu.com. Check it out and get your own copy today!

It's homage-time here on Dare to Danish. This week we're paying homage to one of the great anthems of this or even any generation. It's all about having fun, which is something we like to do.

Get down like this:
I like to move it, move it. | Jeg kan lide at bevæge det, bevæg det.

Note that the second "move it" in Danish is lacking an 'e at the end. That is because it is written here as a command. To move it is different than ordering someone to move it, and that is how you tell them apart in Danish.

It's good to have a hobby, and a common one is to collect something. Some collect stamps, guns or even Barbie dolls. If you don't collect anything, perhaps it was time you started.

Write this:
She collects bellybutton lint. | Hun samler på navlefnuller.

Bellybutton and lint become one word in Danish. If you split it up, bellybutton is 'navle' and lint is 'fnuller'. Also, the English 'collects' is two words in Danish, directly translated the words are: 'collecting on'.

If you're ever bored whilst visiting Denmark, which of course hopefully won't happen - but you know, worst case and all that, suggesting games or some form of creative fun is always a good idea.

You could say or write:
Let us do something with tar. | Lad os gøre noget med tjære.

As an alternative, and possibly more common, you could substitute the Danish word 'gøre' (do) with 'lave' (make). Also, unlike in English, the word 'noget' is a word in its own right, rather than a combination of two words (some thing).

This one's a homage to the movie "The Big Lebowski", or actually "Logjammin'", the movie within the movie. Denmark was the first country in the world to legalize porn (and gay marriage - go open-minded Danes!), so today's phrase may come in handy for that as well...

In writing:
I'm here to fix the cable. | Jeg er her for at fixe kablet.

Note that there are no contractions in Danish. The English "I'm" (I am) is "Jeg er" in Danish. When writing or speaking Danish, there really aren't any contractions, like the ones used in English. Note also that the English word "to" becomes two words in Danish, ("for at").

This one is actually based on a true story. A sales person once told a friend of a friend this, after unsuccessfully having attempted to provide him with a mutually beneficial sale. In other words, if perfectly normal to expect having to say something like:

My ass is in your hands, okay? | Min røv er i dine hænder, okay?

Grammar-wise this is an easy one, as everything is translated word for word. Note though, that the Danish word 'hænder' (hands) looks and sounds completely different, when there is only one hand involved. In that case, the word is spelled 'hånd'.

Easter is over and it's time for an honest opinion. Look at your significant other, or even yourself in the mirror, and say it like it is.

Or write it like this:
I hate your sausage toes. | Jeg hader dine pølsetæer.

In Danish the words 'pølse' (sausage) and 'tæer' (toes) become one. The latter part, 'tæer' is strictly plural, by the way. In singular form (as in one toe) it is spelled 'tå' and is pronounced pretty much like the English word, except with a shorter ending.

Sometimes, when people ask for an opinion, the best thing you can do is just be brutally honest. This lesson however, is a perfect example of a situation, where honesty should probably take the backseat.

Insult people in writing:
Your lips look like slugs. | Dine læber ligner skovsnegle.

The interesting word here is, of course, 'skovsnegle' which is made up of the words 'skov' (which means forest) og 'snegle' (which means snails). Notice also that the g in both the words 'ligner' and 'snegle' is pronounced more like a y. This is very common in Danish, although if a word begins with a g or if the word has a double g in it, they are pronounced the same as in English.

In related news, this podcast is mentioned in the current issue of Podcast User Magazine (issue #15 in pdf). There is lots of cool info to be found there (not just about Dare to Danish), so do check that out.

After a short spring break, the Danish Lessons return with a phrase that's based on a true story. When a young woman I know was in a public pool, and another girl started touching her butt, she naturally questioned the action. The butt-toucher's reply turned out to be a perfect Danish Lesson.

Write it so:
Don't worry, it's just my hand. | Bare rolig, det er kun min hånd.

This one is not a word-for-word translation. The English "don't worry" is translated into "bare rolig" which has the same meaning, though the words are actually "just calm" (I guess you could compare it to an abbreviated version of "just stay calm"). Also note that there is no contraction in Danish. The English "it's" becomes "det er", "it is".

We stay with the food related stuff for this 41st Danish phrase. Everyone who has ever visited a cheap cafeteria, knows what it's like to order something, which turns out to be cold in the middle. Or at least, you've probably nuked some food yourself, and not heated it all the way.

It could be written like this:
My ham is frozen. | Min skinke er frossen.

This is a word for word translation that actually works. The most interesting word here is perhaps 'frossen', which of course is related to 'frost' (spelled the same in both languages). The ending of the word depends on, where in the sentence you find it. If we say simply 'my frozen ham', it becomes 'min frosne skinke' instead. Oh yes, Danish is tough.