7 Best Danish TV Series To Learn The Language
Author
One of the most frequent questions I get from students is:
“Freja, how do I improve my Danish listening skills without living in Denmark?”
My answer is always the same: Watch shows.
Denmark might be a small country, but we are actually famous worldwide for our television production. You might have heard of the term “Nordic Noir.”
Watching series is an excellent way to get input that is engaging and fun. It helps you hear how real people speak, including slang, mumbling, and regional accents, rather than the robotic speech you often hear in textbook audio.
Here are my top recommendations for Danish TV series that will help you learn the language.
Table of Contents:
Why watch Danish TV to learn?
Before we look at the list, I want to explain why this works.
When you start to learn Danish, the sounds can be very difficult. Danish has many soft consonants (like the soft D) and vowel sounds that glide into each other.
By watching TV, you expose your brain to the rhythm of the language.
Even if you don’t understand every word, your brain is picking up patterns. This is called “immersion.”
Also, it teaches you culture. Language is not just words; it is how people interact. In Danish TV, you will see how we handle conflict, how we joke, and how we interact with authority (usually very casually!).
The best Danish dramas for learners
These are the shows that made Danish TV famous. They are usually high quality, but the language can be complex, so they are best for intermediate learners.
1. Borgen (Government)
This is arguably the most famous Danish series. It follows Birgitte Nyborg, who becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark.
Why it’s good for learners:
The characters in Borgen speak very clear, standard Danish (Rigsdansk). Because it is a political drama, they articulate their words well during speeches and debates. You will learn a lot of vocabulary related to society, work, and politics.
Man kan ikke lede et land alene.
2. Broen (The Bridge)
This is a crime thriller that starts with a body found exactly in the middle of the Øresund Bridge, which connects Copenhagen (Denmark) and Malmö (Sweden).
Why it’s good for learners:
This show is fantastic for training your ear to hear the difference between Danish and Swedish. The two main characters speak their own languages, but they understand each other perfectly.
Warning: It can be confusing for beginners because half the dialogue is in Swedish. However, it is a great reality check for how closely related our languages are.
3. The Rain
Available on Netflix, this is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi series about a virus carried by rainfall that wipes out most of the population. Two siblings emerge from a bunker years later to find a new world.
Why it’s good for learners:
The dialogue in The Rain is generally simpler and more action-oriented than in political dramas. It uses a lot of modern, youthful slang because the main characters are young adults.
Bliv indenfor. Lås vinduerne.
Comedy and easy watching
If you find crime dramas too dark or difficult, comedies are a great alternative. They often reflect everyday life better than thrillers.
4. Rita
Rita is my personal favorite recommendation for learners. It is about a rebellious school teacher who is great with kids but terrible with adults.
Why it’s good for learners:
The setting is a school (Hjørdis, a spin-off, is also great). This means you hear a mix of formal language used by the headmaster, casual language used by Rita, and very simple slang used by the children and teenagers. The articulation is usually quite clear.
Jeg er ikke et forbillede. Jeg er lærer.
5. Klovn (Clown)
This is a sitcom similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm. It follows comedians Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen playing fictional versions of themselves.
Why it’s good for learners:
It is full of awkward social situations. You will learn exactly what not to say in Danish society. The language is extremely colloquial and “real.” It is unscripted (improvised) in many parts, so it sounds exactly like a real conversation between friends.
A classic cultural recommendation
6. Matador
If you ask any Dane over the age of 40 what the best Danish series ever is, they will say Matador. It aired in the late 1970s and early 80s and covers life in a fictional Danish town from 1929 to 1947.
Why it’s good for learners:
It is a history lesson. You understand the Danish mindset during World War II. The language is old-fashioned, but it is spoken very slowly and clearly compared to modern mumbling actors.
How to use subtitles correctly
Watching TV only helps if you do it the right way. If you just read English subtitles the whole time, you are mostly practicing reading English, not listening to Danish.
Here is a quick guide on how to progress with subtitles:
| Level | Subtitle Strategy | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Danish Audio + English Subtitles | Get used to the rhythm and sounds while understanding the plot. |
| Intermediate | Danish Audio + Danish Subtitles | Connect the written word to the spoken sound. This is the most effective stage. |
| Advanced | Danish Audio + No Subtitles | Full immersion. You rely entirely on your ears. |
A note on Danish subtitles
In Danish, we often swallow the ends of words. For example, the word kage (cake) looks like it has two syllables, but sounds like one long sound.
Watching with Danish subtitles is the best way to bridge the gap between how a word is spelled and how it is actually pronounced.
- Start with Rita or The Rain for easier, modern language.
- Watch Borgen for clear, formal speech.
- Use Danish subtitles as soon as you feel comfortable reading along.
Happy watching! Or as we say in Danish: God fornøjelse!
