Trying on a shirt | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Trying on a shirt to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Jeg har brug for en ny skjorte.

yai hah BROO for uhn noo SHOH-duh. I need a new shirt.

Hvilken farve leder du efter?

VEL-kuhn FAH-vuh LAY-thuh doo EF-thuh? What color are you looking for?

Noget blåt, hvis du har det.

NOH-uh BLOHT, ves doo hah deh. Something blue, if you have it.

Her er en i din størrelse.

HAIR air uhn ee deen STUR-uhl-suh. Here is one in your size.

Kan jeg prøve den?

KAN yai PRUR-vuh den? Can I try it on?

Prøverummet er lige herovre.

PRUR-uh-muhd air LEE-uh HAIR-oh-vruh. The changing room is just over here.

Den passer rigtig godt.

den PASS-uh REK-tee GOHT. It fits really well.

Den ser pæn ud på dig.

den SAIR PAIN ooth poh dai. It looks nice on you.

Word by Word

Jeg “Jeg” means “I” here: the customer is referring to themself in “Jeg har brug for en ny skjorte.” Use it as the subject when talking about your own needs or actions.

har brug for “har brug for” means “need” in “Jeg har brug for en ny skjorte.” The expression works as a whole: “har” contributes “have,” “brug” is the noun inside the expression, and “for” links it to what is needed. Reuse the pattern “Jeg har brug for + thing” when saying that you need something.

en In “en ny skjorte,” “en” is the indefinite article “a.” In “Her er en i din størrelse,” it means “one,” standing for a shirt. Use “en” before a singular item such as “en skjorte,” or to refer back to one item.

ny “Ny” means “new” in “en ny skjorte,” describing the shirt the customer wants. It appears directly before the noun it describes. Use “ny” when asking for or describing something recently bought or unused.

skjorte “Skjorte” means “shirt” in “en ny skjorte.” It names the item the customer needs and tries on. Use it in a clothing shop when talking about a shirt.

Hvilken “Hvilken” means “which” in “Hvilken farve leder du efter?” It asks the other person to choose one specific option from several possibilities. Use “Hvilken” before a singular item or category when asking which one someone wants.

farve “Farve” means “color” in “Hvilken farve leder du efter?” It identifies the type of choice the shop assistant is asking about. Use it after “Hvilken” when asking what color someone wants.

leder efter “leder efter” means “are looking for” in “Hvilken farve leder du efter?” The expression works as a whole: “leder” expresses searching, and “efter” directs that search toward the thing being sought. Reuse the pattern “lede efter + thing,” with the object after “efter,” when asking about or describing something someone wants to find.

du “Du” means “you” in “leder du efter,” referring to the customer. It is the person being asked about their search. Use “du” when speaking directly to one person.

Noget “Noget” means “something” in “Noget blåt, hvis du har det.” It leaves the exact item unspecified while the customer gives a preferred quality. Use “noget” when requesting an unspecified thing.

blåt “Blåt” means “blue” in “Noget blåt,” describing the unspecified thing the customer wants. This is the form used after “Noget” in this dialogue. Reuse the pattern “noget + describing word” when asking for something with a particular quality.

hvis “Hvis” means “if” in “hvis du har det.” It introduces the condition under which the customer’s request can be fulfilled. Use “hvis” before a condition, such as when offering a preference only when it is available.

har “Har” means “have” in “hvis du har det,” asking whether the shop has the requested item or option. In “har brug for,” it is part of the separate expression meaning “need.” Reuse “har + thing” when saying that someone has something available or possesses it.

det “Det” means “it” in “hvis du har det,” referring to the requested blue item or option. It avoids repeating what is being discussed. Use “det” to refer back to an already identified thing in a short reply or condition.

Her “Her” means “here” in “Her er en i din størrelse.” It points to the place or item the shop assistant is presenting. Use “Her er ...” when showing or offering something to another person.

er “Er” means “is” in “Her er en i din størrelse,” connecting the presented item with its location or availability. It is part of the pattern used to introduce something that is here. Use “er” in “Her er ...” when pointing something out.

i “I” means “in” in “i din størrelse,” indicating the size in which the shirt is available. It links the item to its size. Reuse “i + size expression” when describing clothing available in a particular size.

din “Din” means “your” in “din størrelse,” referring to the customer’s size. It comes directly before the noun that belongs to or concerns the customer. Use “din + noun” when addressing one person about something that is theirs or relates to them.

størrelse “Størrelse” means “size” in “din størrelse.” It identifies the measurement category the shop assistant is referring to. Use it when asking about or checking the size of clothing.

Kan “Kan” means “can” in “Kan jeg prøve den?” It begins a request about whether the customer is allowed or able to try on the shirt. Use “Kan jeg ...?” to ask politely whether you may do something.

prøve “Prøve” means “try” in “prøve den,” and in this clothing-shop context it means “try on” the shirt. It is followed by the item being tried on. Reuse “prøve + item” when asking to test or try clothing.

den “Den” means “it” in “Kan jeg prøve den?” and refers to the shirt. The same form refers back to the shirt in “Den passer rigtig godt” and “Den ser pæn ud på dig.” Use “den” to avoid repeating a previously mentioned shirt or other item.

Prøverummet “Prøverummet” means “the changing room” in “Prøverummet er lige herovre.” It names the room where the customer can try on the shirt. Use it when directing someone to or asking about the changing room in a clothing shop.

lige “Lige” means “just” in “lige herovre,” making the location sound immediate or close. Together with “herovre,” it helps the speaker point out where the changing room is. Use “lige” before a location expression when indicating that something is right nearby.

herovre “Herovre” means “over here” in “lige herovre,” pointing to the nearby location of the changing room. It is used while directing the customer toward a place. Reuse it when indicating a nearby spot from where you are speaking.

passer “Passer” means “fits” in “Den passer rigtig godt,” describing how well the shirt fits the customer. The shirt is the subject of this statement. Use “passer” when checking whether clothing has the right fit.

rigtig “Rigtig” means “really” in “rigtig godt,” strengthening the positive assessment of the fit. It comes before “godt” in this expression. Reuse “rigtig + describing word” to make an evaluation stronger when the meaning is clear.

godt “Godt” means “well” in “passer rigtig godt,” describing the quality of the fit. Together, “rigtig godt” says that the shirt fits very well. Use “passer godt” when saying that clothing fits comfortably or correctly.

ser “Ser” means “looks” in “Den ser pæn ud på dig.” It is part of the appearance expression “ser pæn ud,” while “pæn” describes the appearance and “ud” completes the expression. Reuse the pattern “ser + describing word + ud” when commenting on how something appears.

pæn “Pæn” means “nice” in “ser pæn ud,” describing the shirt’s appearance on the customer. It contributes the positive appearance judgment, while “ser ... ud” forms the complete “looks” expression. Use it when complimenting clothing or another person’s appearance.

ud “Ud” is part of the expression “ser pæn ud,” which means “looks nice.” Here it does not mean “out” by itself; it completes the appearance construction with “ser” and “pæn.” Reuse “ser ... ud” when describing how something looks.

på “På” means “on” in “på dig,” identifying the person on whom the shirt looks nice. It connects the appearance of the clothing with the person wearing it. Use “på + person” in this kind of comment about how clothing looks on someone.

dig “Dig” means “you” in “på dig,” referring to the customer wearing the shirt. It completes the phrase that says the shirt looks nice on that person. Use “på dig” when commenting directly on how clothing or another item looks on someone.

Grammar Points

hvilken + noun

Hvilken farve?

VEL-kuhn FAH-vuh?

Which color?

hvilken means “which/what” and is used before a noun such as farve.

noget + neuter adjective

noget blåt

NOH-uh BLOHT

something blue

After noget, the adjective takes the neuter form: blå becomes blåt.

Danish Vocabulary

blå adj

BLOH blue blåt

Noget blåt, hvis du har det.

farve noun

FAH-vuh color

Gender: common

Hvilken farve leder du efter?

have brug for phrase

HAH-vuh BROO for need har brug for

Jeg har brug for en ny skjorte.

hvilken det

VEL-kuhn which; what

Hvilken farve leder du efter?

hvis conj

ves if

Noget blåt, hvis du har det.

lede efter phrase

LAY-thuh EF-thuh look for leder efter

Hvilken farve leder du efter?

noget pron

NOH-uh something

Noget blåt, hvis du har det.

ny adj

NOO new

Jeg har brug for en ny skjorte.

prøve verb

PRUR-vuh try

Kan jeg prøve den?

prøverum noun

PRUR-uhm changing room prøverummet

Gender: neuter

Prøverummet er lige herovre.

skjorte noun

SHOH-duh shirt

Gender: common

Jeg har brug for en ny skjorte.

størrelse noun

STUR-uhl-suh size

Gender: common

Her er en i din størrelse.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What color are you looking for?

Show Answer

Hvilken farve leder du efter?

Something blue, if you have it.

Show Answer

Noget blåt, hvis du har det.

Here is one in your size.

Show Answer

Her er en i din størrelse.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

something

Show Answer

noget

shirt

Show Answer

skjorte

blue

Show Answer

blåt

Show Answer

hvis