Scandinavian similarities
Danish, Norwegian and Swedish are related, but must be treated as separate languages in any formal translation.
North Germanic language
Request a Danish translation
dansk
Danish documents are often relevant to Scandinavian business, education and family matters. ABBA-Sprachendienste establishes the language direction, subject area and intended recipient.
Danish is spoken by approximately six million people, primarily in Denmark and Southern Schleswig.
Geographical distribution of Danish
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Denmark
Faroe Islands
Greenland
Germany
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Danish at a glance
- Native name
- dansk
- Language family
- North Germanic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- da
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- Civil-status documents
- School and university certificates
- Employment and business contracts
- Medical and technical documents
- Supporting documents for public authorities and insurers
Origin and development
How the language developed
Danish is a North Germanic language and, like Swedish and Norwegian, developed from Old Norse. The Scandinavian written languages influenced one another over many centuries.
Modern spelling uses the Latin alphabet with æ, ø and å. Older documents may contain historical spellings or use the older aa form instead of å.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Preserve special characters
Æ, ø and å must be reproduced exactly in names, addresses and file references.
Historical spellings
In older certificates, the same place or name may be spelt differently from today.
A brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Goddag | — | Good day |
| Tak | — | Thank you |
| Vær så venlig | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Danish language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Danish FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Danish
Can I have documents translated from Danish into German and from German into Danish?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Danish?
Civil-status certificates, school and university certificates, employment and business contracts, and medical and technical documents are common examples. Other types of documents can also be assessed from a clear photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Danish documents?
The review covers the language direction, document type, use of the Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation of my Danish document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Request a specific review of Danish ↔ German
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
