Danish adverbs: the complete guide
An overview of Danish adverbs
While adjectives are used to qualify nouns, an adverb can modify a verb, an adjective or even another adverb.
The following example shows a Danish phrase where the adverb modifies the verb:
(translation: “He always studies linguistics”)
Remark about the direction of the arrows: These diagrams represent the syntactic structure of a sentence. The arrows go from head word to dependent word.
The next example shows a Danish phrase in which the adverb modifies the adjective:
(translation: “very good grammar”)
Finally, here is an example of a Danish phrase where the adverb modifies another adverb:
(translation: “He pronounces very well.”)
Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency are used to describe how often an action or an event occurs.
| Danish adverb | translation |
|---|---|
| altid | always |
| stadig | constantly, still |
| ofte | frequently |
| tit | often |
| sædvanligvis | usually, normally |
| indimellem | sometimes, once in a while |
| sjældent | rarely, seldom |
| aldrig | never |
The Danish adverb “altid” resembles the Swedish adverb “alltid” except for a small spelling difference. In fact, Danish and Swedish are fairly similar languages. On a related note, see this guide to Swedish adverbs.
Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree indicate “how much” or “to what extent” an adjective or another adverb applies.
| Danish adverb | translation |
|---|---|
| fuldstændig | completely, utterly |
| helt | completely, quite |
| særdeles | particularly, a lot |
| især | especially, particularly |
| vældig | very, mighty |
| meget | much, very |
| temmelig | quite, rather, fairly |
| nok | enough, sufficiently |
| mest | mostly, most |
| nogenlunde | somewhat, to some degree, approximately |
| næsten | nearly, almost |
| lidt | slightly, little |
| næppe | barely |
The Danish adverb “fuldstændig” is derived from the German adverb “vollständig” and they share the same meaning. There are in fact a number of linguistic similarities between Danish and German.
Adverbs of place
Adverbs of place describe “where” an event or an action occurs.
| Danish adverb | translation |
|---|---|
| der | there, at that place |
| her | here, in this place |
| derfra | from there |
| herfra | from here |
| inde | inside |
| derinde | in there |
| ud | out |
| ind | in |
| overalt | everywhere |
| udenfor | outside |
| herinde | in here |
| udefra | from the outside |
| nær | near, nearby |
| indenfor | indoors, inside, within |
| derude | out there |
| væk | away |
| bort | away |
Adverbs of time
Adverbs of time describe “when” an event or an action occurs.
| Danish | translation |
|---|---|
| nu | now |
| endnu | still, yet |
| allerede | already |
| før | before, prior |
| snart | soon |
| tidligere | sooner, earlier |
| endelig | finally |
| efter | later, afterwards |
| umiddelbart | immediately |
| straks | immediately, right away |
| nylig | recently |
| forleden | the other day |
| engang | one time, one day |
| tidlig | early |
| herefter | from now on, hereafter |
| efterhånden | over time, gradually |
| samtidigt | at the same time, simultaneously |
| hidtil | so far, up to now |
| længe | for a long time |
| nogensinde | ever, at some time |
| bagefter | subsequently, afterwards |
The Danish adverb “allerede” is identical to the Norwegian adverb “allerede”. In fact, Danish and Norwegian are fairly similar languages.
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner describe “how” an event or an action occurs.
| Danish | translation |
|---|---|
| så | so, to the extent that |
| godt | well |
| gerne | gladly |
| bevidst | knowingly, deliberately, consciously |
| offentligt | publicly, in public |
| delvis | partly, partially |
| hurtigt | quickly |
| tæt | closely |
| pludselig | suddenly |
| let | easily |
| sagtens | easily |
| dårligt | badly |
| pludseligt | suddenly, all of a sudden |
The Danish adverb “pludselig” resembles the Dutch adverb “plotseling”. Although Danish is closer to German than it is to Dutch, there are some similarities between Danish and Duch.
Adverbs of probability
Adverbs of probability describe “how likely” something is.
| Danish | translation |
|---|---|
| bestemt | definitely, certainly |
| sikkert | certainly |
| måske | perhaps, maybe |
| åbenbart | apparently |
| sandsynligvis | apparently, likely, probably |
The adverb “sandsynligvis” is formed by ading the suffix “-vis” to the adjective “sandsynlig”. This pattern of word formation can be noticed in several other Danish adverbs, for example: “nødvendigvis”, “tilfældigvis” and “eksempelvis”.
Conjunctive adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs serve an important grammatical purpose as they indicate the relationship between thoughts. The relationship can be “cause and effect”, “contrast”, etc.. Here is a list of the most common Danish conjunctive adverbs:
| Danish | translation |
|---|---|
| også | also, as well |
| derfor | therefore |
| dog | however |
| samtidig | also, furthermore, simultaneously |
| således | thus |
| dermed | thus |
| tværtimod | on the contrary |
| desuden | furthermore, moreover, in addition |
| alligevel | anyway, nevertheless, either way |
| derefter | thereafter, afterwards |
| ligeledes | likewise |
| imidlertid | however, meanwhile |
| derved | thus, thereby |
| hellere | instead, rather |
| imens | meanwhile |
| derpå | thereafter, then |
| følgelig | consequently, accordingly |
| derimod | but, however, on the contrary |
More Danish adverbs
Here is a list of some more Danish adverbs which are commonly used:
| Danish | translation |
|---|---|
| ikke | not |
| hvor | where |
| lige | just, recently |
| videre | further |
| kun | only |
| bare | just |
| sammen | together |
| hvordan | how |
| igen | again |
| frem | ahead, forward, forth |
| tilbage | back |
| først | first of all, firstly |
| sådan | such, in this way |
| rundt | around, round |
| netop | precisely, exactly |
| selvfølgelig | of course, naturally |
| ude | out |
| på | on |
| desværre | regrettably, unfortunately |
| direkte | directly |
| hvorfor | why |
| mindst | least |
| naturligvis | of course, naturally |
| herunder | under here, below |
| egentlig | actually |
| helst | preferably |
| dels | partly |
| mindre | less |
| endda | even |
| gratis | free of charge |
| hverken | neither |
| generelt | generally, in general |
| simpelthen | simply |
| utrolig | incredibly |
| rent | purely |
| vidt | widely, broadly |
| eksempelvis | for example |
| fint | fine |
| overhovedet | at all, whatsoever |
| omkring | about, around |
| udelukkende | solely, exclusively |
| nede | down |
| forbi | finished, past |
| nødvendigvis | necessarily |
| præcis | precisely, exactly |
| hvornår | when |
| imellem | between |
| uanset | regardless, whatever |
| forhåbentlig | hopefully |
| omvendt | on the other hand, conversely |
| forkert | wrongly, erroneously |
| tilsyneladende | seemingly, apparently |
| nedad | downwards, downhill |
| henholdsvis | respectively |
| snarere | more accurately, more like, rather |
| selvsagt | of course, needless to say |
| billigt | cheaply |
| ligesom | sort of, kind of |
| forresten | by the way, incidentally |
| overvejende | predominantly |
| atter | again |
| sjovt | funny |
| skriftligt | in writing |
| væsentligt | significantly |
| tilfældigvis | coincidentally, by chance |
We also have other articles focusing on Danish pronouns and Danish prepositions.
To learn more Danish vocabulary, see this list of the 1000 most common Danish words.