Languages of Denmark

The Danish Realm does not have an official language written in its laws, even though most people there speak Danish. Danish is the main language spoken in Denmark proper, while the Faroe Islands use both Danish and Faroese. In Greenland, the official language is Greenlandic, but people can also use Danish in public services.

Danish is the first language for 92% of people living in Denmark. Other languages spoken there include Arabic, English, and German. Almost everyone—87% of the population—can speak English, and many also know German, Swedish, or French. This makes Denmark a place where many languages are understood and used every day.

Recognized minority languages

German people began moving to Denmark around the 12th century from areas where German was spoken. They came for jobs, especially in trading cities like Copenhagen. Many German workers and traders settled there, and German became a common language in some places.

Over time, German influence grew. German was used in important documents, churches, and schools. But as Denmark grew more proud of its own culture, people started preferring Danish. After Denmark lost some land in 1864, a smaller group of German speakers stayed in northern areas. Today, there are still German-speaking communities, especially around Tønder and Aabenraa, who keep their language alive while also speaking Danish.

Minority languages

Dutch

In the 16th century, King Christian II of Denmark invited Dutch farmers to live in Amager near Copenhagen and other parts of the country. They came to help with farming and culture. Over time, their Dutch language mixed with other languages like Low German, High German, and Danish. By the 19th century, the Dutch language in these areas mostly disappeared as people started speaking more Danish.

Frisian

North Frisian was once spoken in villages near the German border and in the town of Tønder. By the 17th century, it was mostly used between the Danish-German border and Højer. Even in the 1930s, some families around Tønder still spoke Frisian, but after World War II, only a few older people still knew the language.

Polish

Polish people came to Denmark to work on farms, especially in Lolland-Falster and South Zealand, between 1893 and 1929. They brought their language with them, and some Polish words entered Danish. After World War I, Polish immigrants started schools to teach their language. When Poland joined the European Union in 2004, more Polish people came to Denmark, but many later returned to Poland.

Romani

Romani languages have a small presence in Denmark. There have been a few books and school materials in Romani, but the language is not officially recognized. Some people in Denmark are descendants of Romani families, but there is little documentation of their language history in the country.

Russian

Russian-speaking people came to Denmark in two main waves. First, Jewish immigrants from areas controlled by Russia arrived around 1900. Later, after the October Revolution in 1917, Russian aristocrats and professionals settled in Denmark. They kept using Russian in their families and communities, especially around the Alexander Nevsky Church in Copenhagen.

Yiddish

Yiddish-speaking Jews came to Denmark starting in 1640. By the late 1700s, many Jewish people lived in Copenhagen. Over time, Yiddish was used less in official documents and schools, which started teaching Hebrew instead. In the early 1900s, thousands of Jewish migrants passed through Copenhagen, and some settled there. They helped keep Yiddish alive until the mid-1950s, when it started to disappear as people learned more Danish.