The Twenty Best Books To Learn Danish

Setting out to learn Danish? Books, as always, are your friends. They invite you to dive into their depths, equipping you with hard knowledge as well as rewarding reading experiences as you go along. 

To help you get going, I have collected 20 books in Danish here, all of which are suited for beginners and/or intermediate learners. They are divided into a first half that deals with grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation and vocabulary.

Many of them deal with more than one of these aspects, so it’s really just a question of picking the ones that appeal to you.

The second half consists of storybooks, with different degrees of help included. Learning while reading stories is a winning strategy! Ah yes, and I couldn’t resist including an oddity or two, as you’ll see.

Let's check out the best books to learn Danish.

Books To Learn Danish Grammar, Pronunciation & Vocabulary

1. Shortcut to Danish. By Mette Andersen

Shortcut To Learn Danish delivers exactly what it promises; a quick way for beginners to get a grip of the basics of the Danish language.

What makes this book superb is how easy it is to get into. It's no miracle fix that will have you fluent in a matter of days, but it's very efficient in giving you a solid foundation.

As such, it works just as well if you’re just planning a trip to one of the Danish speaking countries and would like to shine a little. Or if you’re setting out on a journey to really master the language.

It includes common Danish phrases that immediately will come in handy, as well as basic grammar, pronunciation, and how nouns are marked for gender and plural.

2. Conversational Danish Quick And Easy. By Yatir Nitzany

It has hardly escaped you, that in recent years alternative methods of learning languages have cropped up like forget-me-nots in the spring.

One such method is Conversational Danish Quick And Easy, by linguist Yatir Nitzany.

It's based largely on the frequency principle (see entry 8), in which the most common words of the various types (nouns, verbs etc) are calculated and combined into meaningful, often used sentences.

Now, this really is the fast way. The premise for this book is that in less than 60 fairly simple pages, you can have spontaneous conversations in Danish.

So if you are in a hurry, and perhaps more than happy to avoid all that pesky grammar stuff and finer nuances, this one is for you!

3. Complete Danish Beginner To Intermediate Course. By Bente Elsworth

Feeling a bit more ambitious?

Complete Danish is like the modern day go-to textbook, for those who seek a more solid foothold in the language, and is prepared to offer the time and efforts it takes.

Let’s face it, learning a new language is rarely all beer and skittles.

However, when I say time, I don’t mean years spent trapped in a dusty loft with indecipherable old books. In fact, this one is really easy to get along with, also for the indecipherable complete novice.

It focuses on 4 key skills – reading, writing, listening, and speaking – and features many examples of actual conversation.

It's structured like your classic textbook and functions like a course, with vocabulary building, explanations of grammar, and plenty of exercises to keep you on your toes.

A great asset of this particular textbook is its ability to sneak in loads of Danish culture into the language learning. You will be a lot smarter on Denmark, its people, places, and customs, once you’re done.

4. Danish: A Comprehensive Grammar. By Philip Holmes and Tom Lundkaer Nielsen

If the above titles have not made you feel like a fully equipped Danish grammar villain yet, Danish: A Comprehensive Grammar is definitely your next move.

Don’t be fooled by the less than flashy cover.

The tone here is actually light, fresh, and most importantly, accessible.

This doesn't mean, however, that it any way compromises its thoroughness in the detailed analysis of Danish grammar which, to be sure, is not all that hard for an English-speaking person.

It just means that it manages to explain it in a comprehensible and stimulating way. It's many Danish learners’ go-to reference book, when it comes to grammar, from the first steps to the highly advanced levels.

There are great benefits to reap here for an English speaker. Particular attention is paid to parallels and cognates between English and Danish, all explained both clearly and in detail.

This is among the things that makes this book a wonderful companion, that you will pick up again and again.

5. Beginner's Danish With Online Audio. By Nete Schmidt

Finding a suitable entry point into a new language that suits you can be a task in itself. In case you are still looking for that, this is not a bad shot at all.

Firstly, Beginner's Danish With Online Audio will:

• gradually broaden your vocab
• offer you the basics of Danish grammar
• give you plenty of relevant examples of everyday conversations, which you may elaborate on
• and open the door to the mysterious world of Danish pronunciation.

Secondly, it has a nice 24-page introduction to Danish history, culture and people, just, you know, to provide the right ambience.

Finally, all the examples of conversations, be it from a restaurant, a medical issue, or a sports field, are followed by exercises, so you will experience your progress, and it will stick better.

Plus, this book pays special attention to the dreaded Danish pronunciation. Perhaps the trickiest part of learning Danish is specifically addressed with included online MP3 audio files, to help you get it right.

This book takes you by the hand and leads you through the maze.

6. Learn Danish With Word Search Puzzles. By David Solenky

Just had to mention this gem. What could possibly seem more enticing than playing your way into mastering a new language?

Well, now you can. Or at least you can exercise and expand your vocab in a relaxing and fun way.

The game is very classic: you detect words horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. You will find more than 100 of them in this book, and they are English/Danish bilingual.

That means there are actual solutions to them which, luckily, are provided too. Without you even noticing you’re studying, you will learn Danish words about fruits, the body, colours, numbers, weather and the like.  

Needless to say, this book won’t make you much smarter about Danish grammar or pronunciation.

However, it’s a fun and useful way to keep the learning process going, exercising your vocabulary, and first and foremost, keeping those little grey cells of yours in fit peakiness condition…. or is that peak fitness? Anyhow, combining games with learning works really well.

7. Danish: An Elementary Grammar and Reader. By Elias Bredsdorff

Now I think it’s time to let the professor have his say.

Mr. Bredsdorff has been teaching Danish to students in England for many years, so he knows a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t.

Danish: An Elementary Grammar and Reader is his attempt to guide you through the Danish language, in a course that has been tried and tested, and has proved successful.

The first four sections of this book are dedicated to phonetics, pronunciation, grammar, and peculiarities like measures, meals, money and the like.

The last two sections, mind you, are dedicated to getting you to work. Here you’ll find texts in Danish, for you to translate into English, and a number of English texts for you to do the opposite.

These texts include both prose and poems, so there is still beauty to be had.

Bredsdorff, like any good teacher, expects some effort from you. But he is no unfair man, the material and texts are made to be understood by beginners.

There are exercises along the way, to make sure you are following along. And of course, your efforts will be rewarded handsomely.

8. Danish Frequency Dictionary – Essential Vocabulary. By MostUsedWords, Jonas Jensen

This Danish Frequency Dictionary is one to get your vocab fully weaponised.

Yet it can seem quite abstract, how much is 2500 words in the real world? Some studies suggest that 2500 words account for 92% of spoken Danish.

Whether this is precise or not, there’s no doubt that this will go a long way in terms of you engaging in all sorts of everyday conversation. Imagine that.

With this in your vocabulary, there is hardly any information, message, want, need, or information that you will be unable to express. 

Along with the ranked list of Danish words, you'll get an English translation, word class, an example of use in both Danish and English, plus help with pronunciation.

The source for the words is a thorough collection of television subtitles, so as to ensure an effective combo of spoken and written Danish.

9. Danish Tutor: Grammar & Vocabulary Workbook. Jesper Hansen & Anne Grydehøj

As the title suggests, Danish Tutor is for you if you have a basic understanding of Danish under your hat already.

If you are at that level, this book is like your personal assistant who, hand in hand, will take you to the next level.

It can also, of course, be used as a reference book that you can turn to in case of specific case that you have an issue with.

Through authentic examples and exercises connected to them, you get to work your way to a new level of the language.

In this book, you will find 200 activities that include pronunciation and grammar points, but will also require tasks in the real world.

Not meant to be intimidating, and certainly not too hard to do, it will enhance the way you learn the Danish language.

This is a workbook. In this case, the title is to be taken rather literally, sorry. No pain, no gain, as some would say, but it still can be fun, and if you get on your feet and follow this one, you have come a long way!

10. Politikens Retskrivnings- og Betydningsordbog

Does anyone use dictionaries in our computerised world of today? I certainly do.

If you're anything like me, you get also get a special feel from the tactility of a nice physical book.

And this is a very useful one at that.

Whether you feel inspired to write your first piece of poetry in Danish, are working on an essay, or just enjoying a game of scrabble, this book is a great companion.

It's structured like you would expect from a book of this type. It includes both correct spelling, examples of use, expressions, as well as synonyms, which will help make your active language more vivid.

Books To Learn Danish By Reading

11. Learn Danish – Parallel Text. By Polyglot Planet Publishing

Learning a language by reading parallel texts is a method favoured by many. The first half of this parallel text consists of bilingual stories, while the second half is Danish only.

It's claimed that even beginners with no prior knowledge of the language can have a go at this.

I think that would take a very daring novice, and I probably wouldn’t recommend that. A basic knowledge would certainly be advisable. 

The sentences are translated line by line, and will definitely help your vocab expand, while the grammar kind of sneaks in. The stories, designed to keep your attention, are mostly about travel, but not really related to Danish topics. 

12. Learn Danish With The Little Mermaid. By Kees Van den End

Learn Danish With The Little Mermaid is in the same family as the previous one, given its bilingual nature.

Of course, there is no way around Hans Christian Andersen when it comes to learning Danish through stories.

It has been said of his famous stories, that they are written for adults, and told for children.

That’s a tad enigmatic, but it surely is true that adults too can have a wonderful experience reading his fairytales.

Some of his works actually deal with rather heavy subjects like illness, grief, poverty and death, on occasions venturing into horror!

In this book, you'll find a collection of his stories, accompanied by an English translation. In this case, this translation is linear, which means you’ll find the English word right below the Danish one.

This makes it immediately readable, so you’ll build vocabulary, while hopefully enjoying these classic tales.

13. Short Stories In Danish For Beginners. By Olly Richards

Reading stories that engage you has a way of sneaking in grammar rules, without making you feel that you’re doing exercises.

Short Stories in Danish for Beginners is written with that specific goal in mind.

The language, which is carefully designed to let you progress naturally, is suited for beginners with a little knowledge of Danish, to low-intermediate readers.

It makes good use of spoken dialogue, which lets you pick up common Danish expressions and a sense of the flow of the language.

To help you along, the eight stories in this book include a glossary and a word list, so you can look up unfamiliar words, in case the context isn’t enough to give it away!

The stories are written in exciting genres like fantasy, crime and sci-fi, and are beautifully enhanced with charming hand-drawn illustrations.

14. Tiny Stories For Danish Learners. By Anker Hansen

I wonder why it is, that short stories in Danish often tend to evolve around something magical and mysterious. Tiny Stories For Danish Learners is no exception.

The stories you meet here are short too, tiny even. Not more than a few paragraphs long each, so you won’t be overwhelmed or discouraged by the sheer volume of words.

Plus, it gives you the satisfaction of finishing the stories, and the pleasant feeling of progress.

The Danish texts are found in an English translation on the following page, and the more difficult words are bolded and found in a glossary. Finally, each story has a few questions in its tail, to make sure you understood, and haven’t skipped the details!

15. Danish: Thematic Vocabulary And Short Stories. By Lingvora books

This book is a bit of a mixed bag, but with the short stories I thought it would fit nicely here.

It's divided into two sections; the first part is a vocab booster, thematically grouped, in Danish-English, with some exercises at the end to help you memorise the words better.

The second part consists of an anthology of short stories, written in very reader-friendly Danish. These, again, are followed by some exercises, to test your understanding of the texts.

Please remember, the exercises are not there to bother you. But rather to give you the satisfaction of knowing you have read, enjoyed, and understood the story.

16. Sære Historier/Strange Stories. By Villy Sørensen

Like short stories? Well, with Strange Stories you’ll get a handful, in more ways than one.

In this, his debut, writer, philosopher and literary critic Villy Sørensen really lets loose. Both absurd and surreal, these stories defy logic as we know it, and it's an amazing read.

The subject matter may be serious, but it's written with a subtle and elegant sense of humour.

Also, the language is relatively easy, though much of the dialogue would be a rare treat in the real world.

If Kafka-inspired stories, where tigers move into your home or affectionate children take chainsaws to each other, are your thing, then these twisted tales should do the trick. If you need help, an English translation exists. Dictionaries too, of course!

17. Den Forsvundne Fuldmægtig. By Hans Scherfig

For this entry, I asked a friend of mine, who is a Danish teacher, if she could name a serious, renowned novel that an intermediate speaker would be able to read.

She came up with Den forsvundne fuldmægtig. And I can understand why.

Judging from the reviews, this book is easily read. It's considered a modern classic in Danish literature, and is likely to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

The title translates literally to ”The disappeared clerk” (of course, you already knew that!), and follows a very grey, average, middle class clerk in his longing for freedom and an escape from his dull existence.

A somewhat bittersweet affair altogether, but a hugely enjoyable, satirical book.

18. Den Afrikanske Farm/Out of Africa. By Karen Blixen

Game for the tallest order on the list? Den Afrikanske Farm was originally published in 1937, so apart from being very elaborate, the language here is also a bit old-fashioned.

Stylistically, it is a bliss, but not easy to read, even for the intermediate reader.

An English version exists, as Blixen actually wrote it herself in English originally, and then rewrote it in Danish.

Consulting a copy of the English version can’t be considered cheating! The book details her memoirs as owner of a coffee plantation in Kenya, then part of the British empire.

It's a captivating piece, that has truly stood the test of time, so your effort will be rewarded.

Sydney Pollack produced and directed a film adaption of the book in 1985. This film won a whopping 7 Oscars, and is well worth a watch.

19. Danish Folktales, Legends & Other Stories. By Timothy R. Tangherlini

So, we’re back in the mysterious section of Denmark again. This time even primarily in English.

But Danish, Folktales, Legends & Other Stories really gives such a fascinating insight, it would seem wrong to leave it out.

The stories of five intriguing storytellers are presented here, along with comprehensive bibliographical and historical background texts.

Folktales and legends may be as old as time itself, but it has much more to say to the modern reader than most people expect. Trust me, you’ll see.

The book comes with a DVD, called the Danish folklore Nexus, which includes all 500 stories in English and Danish.

It also provides links between the legends and stories, pointing to common themes and places, as well as essays on social, political and cultural topics that relates to the themes. Wonderful for a warm weekend spent indoors.

20. Top 35 Mistakes Danes Make in English. By Kay Xander Mellish

I thought we should end on a light note. Top 35 Mistakes Danes Make in English is in English and, for the keen language learner, hilarious.

If you’re learning Danish by communicating with Danes, be it in spoken or written words, some of the examples are guaranteed to ring a bell.

Why, for the life of them, Danes just can’t seem to distinguish between fun and funny, to name just one example.

Fair enough, as you are struggling to learn a new language, it’s about time you have a laugh at the Danes’ expense!

Books To Learn Danish: Next Steps

So there you have it – the 20 best books to learn Danish.

If you wish to improve your Danish further, remember that Denmark has a rich tradition for literature, within all styles and genres.

From poetry to microbiology, you will find it all in your new language.

Of course, there are also plenty of TV-shows, movies, podcasts out there in Danish, so you will never run out of ways to move forward. 

In the meantime, happy reading!