Danish swear words aren’t as aggressive as some languages, but they’re still effective. Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones, their meanings, and when to (or not to) drop them.
1. Fuck / Fanden
Fanden
/ˈfanən/“The devil / Damn”
Mild swear, like 'damn'. Used for frustration, not directed at people.
Example: "Fanden også!" (Damn it!)
2. Lort
Lort
/lort/“Shit”
Literally 'shit'. Mild, used like 'crap' in English.
Example: "Det er noget lort." (This is shit.)
3. Pis
Pis
/piːs/“Piss”
Soft swear, like 'piss'. Often in phrases like "Hold nu pis!" (Oh, come on!).
4. Røv
Røv
/røvˀ/“Ass”
Means 'ass'. Used in phrases like "Slå røven i seng" (hit the sack).
5. Kælling
Kælling
/kɛlenɡ/“Bitch”
Direct translation: 'bitch'. Stronger, avoid in polite company.
Warning: Kælling is gendered and derogatory. Use sparingly, if at all.
6. Satans
Satans
/saˈtæˀns/“Damn / Satan”
Mild, like 'darn'. Example: "Satans også!" (Damn it!).
7. Skide
Skide
/skiːðə/“Shitty”
Means 'to shit'. Used as an intensifier: "Skide godt!" (Fucking great!).
8. Pokkers
Pokkers
[ˈpʰʌɡ̊ɐ]“Damn”
Old-school, like 'dang'. Safe for grandma.
9. For helvede
For helvede
/fɔ ˈhɛlʋəðə/“For hell's sake”
Stronger, means 'for hell's sake'. Use when pissed.
10. Kuk
Kuk
/kuk/“Dick”
Means 'dick'. Not as common, but gets the point across.
11. Fuck dig
Fuck dig
/fɔk dɑj/“Fuck you”
Borrowed from English. Direct and aggressive.
12. Din skiderik
Din skiderik
/diːn ˈskiːðəʁek/“You little shit”
Means 'you little shit'. Playful or aggressive, depending on tone.
Pro tip: Danes swear casually among friends, but tone matters. If you’re not sure, stick to fanden or lort - they’re the least likely to offend.
For more Danish language quirks, check out 10 Danish Phrases to Use When You're Feeling Hygge or Danish Jokes: A Cultural Insight into Humor.
