Danish Lessons
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Lesson 1

Pronunciation
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Conversation >> Explanation >> Vocabulary >> Phrases >> Pronunciation >> Grammar >> Test I >> Test II >> Test III
 
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About the phonetic notation
The hard d

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(a Dane)
dan-skə

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(Denmark)
dan-mahk

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(to work)
aah-by-də
 
The silent d

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(to know)
kɛn-ə

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(exciting)
spɛn-n-ə

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(ordinary)
ʌl-meen-lee
 
The soft d

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(to be called something)
heeð

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(a month)
mawn-əð

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(what)
vaeð
 

The soft d is the most difficult Danish sound. The closest it comes to English is the th, but with your tongue extended a bit farther. It doesn't come naturally for English speakers, and requires quite a bit of practice.

Here are a few more examples of the soft d:

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(a code)
koo-ð

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(fat)
feeð

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(a side, a page)
see-ð

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(a period)
pɛ-yoo

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(glad, happy)
glaeð

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