Learn Danish: Numbers 1–20

Learning numbers is a foundational step in mastering Danish, as they appear in almost every daily interaction. Whether you are checking prices at a market, giving your phone number, or discussing the time, these basic numerals are indispensable. This lesson covers the numbers from one (en) to twenty (tyve), providing the essential building blocks you will need before moving on to larger figures and more complex mathematical expressions.

One helpful pattern to notice is the formation of the numbers thirteen through nineteen. Similar to the English use of the suffix "-teen," Danish utilizes the ending "-ten." For example, fifteen is femten (fem-dn) and nineteen is nitten (nid-n). Once you have memorized the base numbers from three to nine, these "teen" numbers become much easier to recognize and recall.

You should also pay close attention to the phonetic differences between written Danish and its spoken form. Danish is known for its soft consonants and silent letters, which are evident in numbers like syv (syoo) for seven and tolv (tol) for twelve. Some numbers also undergo slight vowel changes when they become part of a larger word; for instance, the number six is seks (sehks), but sixteen becomes seksten (sai-sdn). Practicing these specific sounds for words like otte (eight) and elleve (eleven) will help you communicate more naturally with native speakers.