Danish Pronunciation

Luciano Canepari – © 2020”

1. Neutral Danish (Germ., ¤™) has changed considerably with respect to the
traditional pronunciation of three or four decades ago, both phonetically and

/i[i]/ (i{i]), /y[y]/ (y[y]) /u[u]/ (¯[¯])

/U[U]/ (U[U])
/I[I]/ (I[I]), /Y[Y]/ (Y[Y])
/È/ (È)
/e[e]/ (e[e]), /°[°]/ (°[°]) /o[o]/ (P[P])
/E[E]/ (™[™], ≠E[E]), /ê[ê]/ (ê[ê]) /O[O]/ (ø[ø]), /Úò/ (√, ∏|)
/π/ (E, ≠™) /∏/ (∏)
/a/ (a) {(≠Å)+lab. or apic. C] /aa/ (aa)
/i, I/+/∑/ (Û, ¤) ≠(…, ¢)+(Ã)
/y, Y/+/∑/ (y, Y) ≠(%, T)+(Ã) /K[u]u/ (‰u[u], ≠‰U[U])
/Ke[e]/ (‰e[e]) /K°[°]/ (‰°[°])
/eE/+/Ú/ (™Ä-) ≠(EE-, ee-) /°ê/+/Ú/ (#ê-) ≠(êê-, °°-)
/EE/+/Ú/ (ÄÄ-, ≠EE-), /KE/ (‰[=]Ä, ≠-E) /Kê/ (‰[j]@, ≠-ê)
/E[E]Ké/ (Ä[Ä]‰é, ≠E[E]-) /∏/ (,, ’√)
/’πò/ (Å, ≠π), /’Kaò/ ([‰]a)

/i[i]/ ≠(i{i]), /y[y]/ ≠(y[y]) /u[u]/ ≠(¯[¯])

/I[I]/ ≠(e[I]), /Y[Y]/ ≠(°[Y]) /U[U]/ ≠(o[U])
/e[e]/ ≠(™[e]), /°[°]/ ≠(#[°]) /o[o]/ ≠(Ö[P])
/E[E]/ ≠(E[™]), /ê[ê]/ ≠(ê[ê]) /O[O]/ ≠(ø[ø])
/π/ ≠(Ä) /∏/ ≠(ù, O, ¬)
/a/ ≠(Å), /aa/ ≠(aå)

/uy[È]/ (¯y[È])
/Ii/ (Ii) /Yy/ (Yy)
/ei/ (ei)
/Ei/ (™i)
/∏y[È]/ (,Y[È], ≠ùY[È])
/ai[È]/ (Åe[È], ≠aÙ[È], ≠≠AÙ[È])

/iu/ (i¯) /yu/ (y¯)

/Iu/ (I¯) /Yu/ (Y¯)
/°u/ (°¯)
/eu/ (e¯) /ou/ (P¯)
/Eu/ (™¯) /Ou/ (O¯)
/∏u/ (,¯, ≠ù¨)
/au/ (a¯, ≠a¨)
2 danish pronunciation

phonemically (even though grammars and textbooks usually still present tradi-
tional pronunciation).
In fact, we now even find an opposition between /π/ – /a/, as in kan /'khπ/ ('khπ)
(present tense) ‘can' V kar /'kha/ ('kha) ‘container', Anners /'πn√s/ ('öπn√ß) (genitive
plural form of) ‘Anna' V Anders /'an√s/ ('öan√ß) (surname).
In words of foreign origin ending in -a¸, we have /πò/ (Å), but /aò/ (a) for -ra\
villa /'vilπ/ ('vilÅ), Noah /'nUUπ/ ('nUUÅ), zebra ('ßIIp‰a), Nora ('nUU‰a, 'nUUa).
Moreover, we now have: lad /'lπ∑/ ('lπÃ) (before coronal C) V lab˚ laf˚ lak /'lap,
'laf, 'lak/ ('lap, 'laf, 'lak), which once had the same phoneme (/'0a0/), even though
phonetic di‡erences similar to those of today were to be found (¤: ('lπÃ), ('lÅp, 'lÅf,
'lÅk)), while there were no minimal pairs, since kar was still /'khaK/ ('kha”, 'khax)
(the last symbol is completely voiceless), and kan /'kha{n~}/ ('khπ{c}).
Besides, it is better to posit the phonemes /ê{ê}/, even if they are only found in
contact with /K/. In fact, particularly out of sociolinguistic reasons, we cannot let
/Kê{ê}/ (‰ê{ê}) coincide with the diaphonemic sequences /K°{°}/ (‰°{°}), which are
possible in the same words, but with connotations referring to traditional pronun-
ciation (which is shown by the taxophones given in the second vocogram), with a
closing and fronting narrow diphthong; the same happens for the indicated taxo-
phone of /Ke{e}/ (‰e{e}).
We also show a number of variants, mostly contextual: taxophones. Some are
indicated by means of descending arrows, ≠, as less recommendable, or mediatic,
shown especially in the third vocogram. Some are only slightly moved in their
own cells, others change more. <us, listening to di‡erent speakers, it may seem
that some neutralizations can occur.
2. Let us also notice /eE, °ê/, which occur in contact with /K, Ú/: they are dia-
phonemes, being possibly realized as (ee, ÄÄ÷ °°, êê) alongside with (™Ä, #ê): lære
/'leEÚ/ ('l™Ä∏, 'lee∏, 'lÄÄ∏), sm@re /'sm°êÚ/ ('ßm°ê∏, 'ßm°°∏, 'ßmêê∏), rærene /'KeE~Ú-
nÈ/ ('‰™É√nÈ, '‰ee√nÈ, '‰ÄÉ√nÈ, -√ó), r@re /'K°êÚ/ ('‰°ê∏, '‰°°∏, '‰êê∏).
Again in the second vocogram, we also find the peculiar realizations of /KE, Kê/
(‰=Ä, ‰j@), with an inserted approximant, as in: række /'KEkÈ/ ('‰=ÄkÈ), dr@mme
/'tKêmÈ/ ('T‰j@mÈ, -@õ). <ey can alsooccur without (=, j).
Even other taxophones appear, under the influence of /K/ and /Ú/ (√, ∏ò|), as
well, but we focus especially on /aaÚ, OOÚ/ (‘/aaa, OOO/') (a;a, O;O), as in vare /'vaaÚ/
('va;a, 'vaa∏), pore /'phOOÚ/ ('phO;O, 'phOO∏) (see the following vocograms); the sec-
ond taxophones are increasingly less frequent (and belong more to traditional pro-
nunciation); some speakers drop (∏), keeping (aa, OO) without (;).
˛ese three vocograms complete the series with /é/ followed by /Ú/: /iÚ, IÚ, EÚ÷
yÚ, YÚ, êÚ÷ uÚ, UÚ/ (i-, I-, ™-÷ y-, Y-, ê-÷ u-, U-), which maintain the second element
unassimilated, ¤ /Ú/ (√), or (∏ò|), in final and prepausal position. Especially in
sentence internal position, not followed by pauses, some speakers can use high-
er realizations as shown in the third vocogram. Sequences of /éé/ + /Ú/ are also
possible: ord /'UU~Ú/. Stressed initial vowels are often preceded by (ö).

3. As shown in the second vocogram of the first serie of five elements, /i, I, y,
Y/ + /∑/ have retracted taxophones (Û, ¤, y, Y) ≠(…, ¢, %, T) + (Ã), which are indicat-
Danish Pronunciation 3

/iÚ|/ (i∏), /yÚ/ (y∏) /uÚ|/ (u∏)

/IÚ|/ (I∏), /YÚ/ (Y∏) /UÚ|/ (U∏)

/EÚ|/ (™∏), /êÚ/ (ê∏)

/OOÚ|/ = ‘/OOO/' (O;O) ≠(OO, OO∏)
/aaÚ|/ = ‘/aaa/' (a;a) ≠(aa, aa∏)

/iÚ/ (i√), /yÚ/ (y√) /uÚ/ (u√)

/IÚ/ (I√), /YÚ/ (Y√) /UÚ/ (U√)

/EÚ/ (™√), /êÚ/ (ê√)

/OO/+/Ú/ = ‘/OOO/' (O;O) ≠(OO, OO√)
/aa/+/Ú/ = ‘/aaa/' (a;a) ≠(aa, aa√)

/iÚ/ (ix), /yÚ/ (yx) /uÚ/ (ux)

/IÚ/ (Ix), /YÚ/ (Yx) /UÚ/ (Ux)

ed: st@d /'stY∑/ ('ßTTÃ). Danish shows various sequences of vowel phonemes (either
short or long, (é, éé)), phonetically real closing diphthongs, with /i/ (i), or espe-
cially /u/ (¯), as a second element (deriving from previous /Ÿ, v/, to which they
are still synchronically linked). Notice, however, that /ai/ is mostly (Åe, ≠aÙ, ≠≠AÙ).
˛ere are even some real triphthongs, which are generally hardly ever realisti-
cally indicated with ‘/éjé, éwé/', which would lead one to think there are two
syllables ‘/é˘jé, é˘wé/'.
Sequences of /éé/ + /i, u/ are also possible: eg˚ ¢g /'II~i, 'oo~u/, but they are of-
ten shortened to /é/ + /i, u/, especially in widely used words: /'Ii~, 'ou~/.
˛e abstract (tautosyllabic) sequences //Èn, Èl, ÈK// undergo assimilation, which
is already included in our phonemic transcriptions /ó, Í, Ú/ (the latter, (√, ∏|ò), from
previous traditional (…)): halen /'hEEló/, gammel /'kamÈl/ ('kamÍ), haler /'hEElÚ/.
˛is assimilation can further extend to other voiced phonemes: tiet /'thiiÈ∑/
('Thiiµ), hyldet /'hylÈ∑/ ('hylµ). Let us notice that currently (as already emerged from
some examples given above) /Èò/ even assimilates to a preceding voiced phone, giv-
ing: hale /'hEEÍ/, m¢ne /'moonÈ/ ('mPPó), uge /'uuÈ/ ('ö¯¯), pige /'phiiÈ/ ('phii, 'phi;i),
pine /'phiinÈ/ ('phiió), gade /'kEE∑È/ ('k™™µ), which are possibly further reduced in
case of complete assimilation. Let us also notice: uforst¢elige /ufÚ'stoo~ÈliÈ/ (&¯f√-
'ßTPÕPlii).
4. As for the consonants, we recall that /05/ indicates /0h, 0/, which oppose
word-initially; in the extant cases (even in /s0/) they occur without ‘aspiration',
and –between vowels– they are voiceless lenis, (p, /, k) (in careful pronunciation,
but (Ê, fl, â) in connected speech).
Besides, we notice that in the capital and its outskirts, /th/ is often realized as
4 danish pronunciation

m n (~) (,) ˙
p{h} T{h} (+{h}) (k{h}) k{h}
(ç)
fv ß S (À)
à ([) j (=) (j) ‰ h (H)
(K)
l (¬)

/ / (2 2 ' 2 2 Ç 2 2 Ç 2) /./ (2 Ç 3 3) /?/ (2 ' 1 2) /÷/ (2 Ç 2 2)

(≠çh): ten /'thII~n/ ('ThIIc÷ ≠'çh-); on the other hand, especially between vowels, /t/
is frequently realized as ([) (‘dasked d'): otte /'ootÈ/ ('öPP/È, -flÈ, -[È).
In addition, /n, t5, s, l/ + /j/ = (~j, +{h}j, À{j}, ¬j) (also with plain (n, T, ß, l) + (j)),
but usually //sj// = /S/ (S). Besides, in quick speech /h/ can become (H) between vowels.

5. As already seen, Danish has a typical consonantal sound: /∑/ (Ã), ‘blÊdt d'
/'plYt 'tII~/ ('plYT 'TII), a voiced lateralized dental approximant (which foreigners of-
ten mistake for /l/).
St@d is a typically Danish phenomenon by which stressed (or half-stressed) vowels
either short (followed by voiced consonants) or long can present distinctively the
creaky phonation type (in place of ancient tones): hun /'hun/ ('h¯n) ‘she', hund /'hun~/
('h¯c) ‘dog'; also, mor /'mUUÚ/ ('mUU∏) ‘mother', mord /'mUU~Ú/ ('mUU∏) ‘murder'÷
tænder /'thenÚ/ ('Then∏) ‘lighter', tænder /'then~Ú/ ('Thec∏) ‘teeth'.
Some speakers pronounce /é~, 0~/ as sequences of (éö, 0ö). However, nowa-
days, this pronunciation is not considered to be neutral any longer, except when
speaking slowly or emphatically; otherwise, it is regional.
Let us finish with some interesting transcriptions: K@benhavn /khYpó'haU~n/
(&khYpõ'haUn), Kierkegaard /'khiÚkÈkOO~/ ('khi√kÈ&kOO, -kÈ&k-, -k&k-), Lars von Trier
/'laas f∏n'thKii~Ú/ ('laaß f∏n'Th‰ii∏).

6. Spelling˘ Vowels: a /EE, π, a/ (but only /a, aa/ before or after r), e /II, e; I/
(after r, normally /E, ee, ei/; before r /E, II/), eg¸/ej /ai/, ’er(¸) /Ú/, i /ii, i, I/, o /UU,
∏, o; U/ (before g˚ v even /oo/), or /OO, O/, u /uu, u, o; U/, y /yy, y, Y/, æ /e, ee/ (be-
fore r /eE, E/, after r /ee, E/), @ /YY, Y, °, °°/ (before r /YY, °ê, ê/, after r /°, °°, ê/;
/°, °°/ only, but not necessarily, before m˚ n˚ v, or after r), @r /YYÚ, êÚ/, @g/@j /∏y/,
¢ /oo, ∏, o/, ¢r /OO, ’O/, év[l/n]˘ /éu{l/n}/.
Consonants: b /p/ (finally, even /vò, uò/), c /s5, k/, ch /S/, d /˘t, ∑ò, ∑È, ’∑i/ (silent
in ld˚ nd, rd¸˚ ds˚ dt), -dd- /∑/, g /˘k, Ï`, 5iò, Ìuò/, lg /lj/, rg /Úu/, -gg- /k/, h /h/, ¸hj
/j/, ¸hv /v/, jV /j/, k /òkh, k/, ng /˙/, p /òph, p/, r /K, Úò/ [Vre(r)¸ /é{é}Ú/, Vrre(r)¸
/é{Ú}KÚ/, ’Cre¸ /0KÚ/, ’ere¸ /ÚÚ/}, s /s/, t /òth, t/, z /s/.

7. ˛e fundamental intonation patterns are shown in the tonogram at the end

of the last figure.
danish pronunciation 5
8. Here is a concise presentation of the Faroese and Greenlandic accents of
Danish. We show the most typical peculiarities of the vowels (and main diph-
thongs), including some observations about the consonants, also providing the
fundamental tonograms for intonation. Oscillations are quite possible especially
for some vowels and consonants.
<us, in the Faroese accent, the ‘aspirated' voiceless stops are usually (0h) (semi-
approximant), with oscillations between (0h) and (0); while the ‘voiced' stops are
(Â) (lenis voiceless). In addition, /tj/ may become (Ch). Danish r is a uvular tap, (r),
before vowels, but a vocoid, as shown in the first vocogram (vith variants). Creaky
voice [st@d] may be very very unstable, and sometimes used for the vocalized r˘
/i{i}, I{I}/ (i{i}) /u{u}, U{U}/ (u{u})
/y{y}, Y{Y}/ (%{%})
/e{e}/ (e{e}), /°{°}/ (+{+}) /o{o}/ (o{o})
/È/ (Ù)
/E{E}/ (™{™}), /ê{ê}/ (ê{ê}) /O{O}/ (ø{ø}), /∏K/ (O√, OO)
/ê/ with /K/ (@)
/éK/ (é√) {possible (-‘, -å)}
/π, a/ (Ä), /a/ (a) with /k, g, K/
/aa/ (aa)
common diphthongs
/ui/ (ui)

/eu/ (eu) /°u/ (êu)

/Oy/ (OT)
/Eu/ (EU) /∏u/ (OU)
/ai/ (ae) /au/ (aU)

/ / (2 2 ' 2 2 ' 2 2 ' 2) /./ (2 ' 2 3) /?/ (2 Ì 2 2) /÷/ (2 Ç 2 2)

In the Greenlandic accent of Danish, word-initial vowels (especially in stressed

syllables) may be (,é) (with a weak glottal stop). Rather systematically, the ‘aspi-
rated' voiceless stops are (0h) (semiapproximant), and the ‘voiced' stops are (Â)
(lenis voiceless). Before /i[i], I[I], j/, we often find that /t, d/ /s, l, n/ are prepalatal,
(+) (rtespectively with (h) or lenis) and (À, ¬, ~). Danish r is a uvular constrictive,
or approximant, or tap, (º, ˜, r), before vowels, but a vocoid, as shown in the first
vocogram (vith the variants given). Creaky voice [st@d] may be very unstable.
/y[:], Y[:]/ (%[%])
/i[:], I[:]/ (i[i]), /ui/ (ui) /u[:], U[:]/ (u[u])
/+[:], ∏[:]/ (∏[∏])
/e[:], E[:]/ (e[e]), /È/ (Ù) {with /K/ (@[@])}
/o[:], O[:], ∏/ (o[o]÷ ø[ø])
/a[:], π/ (É[É]) {with /K/ (O[O])}
{with /k, g, K/ (a[a])} /éK[0]/ (é√, é‘0)
6 danish pronunciation
common diphthongs (plus /ui/ (ui) above)

/eu, Eu/ (™u) /°u/ (∏u)

/Oy/ (O%)
/∏u/ (Ou)
/ai/ (aÙ) /au/ (au)

/ / (2 2 ' 2 2 ' 2 2 ' 2) /./ (2 ' 2 3) /?/ (2 ' 2 1) /÷/ (2 ' 2 2)