Using a shared laundry room | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: In a shared laundry room, two adults talk about using an available machine and collecting clothes promptly..

EN → DA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Using a shared laundry room to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Må jeg bruge det fælles vaskerum?

moh yigh BROO-uh deh FEL-uhs VAS-guh-ROHM? Can I use the shared laundry room?
B

Det er åbent nu.

deh air OH-bunt noo. It is open now.
A

Er denne maskine ledig?

air DEN-uh muh-SHEE-nuh LEH-thee? Is this machine free?
B

Denne er ledig.

DEN-uh air LEH-thee. This one is available.
A

Hvor skal jeg stille min kurv?

voh skal yigh STEL-uh men koorv? Where should I put my basket?
B

Stil den ved siden af væggen.

steel den veh SEE-thun eh VEG-un. Set it beside the wall.
A

Jeg tager mit tøj ud, når vasken er færdig.

yigh TAIR mee toy ooth, nor VAS-gun air FAIR-dee. I will take my clothes out when the wash is done.
B

Hent dem med det samme.

HEN dem meh deh SAM-uh. Please collect them right away.

Word by Word

Må In “Må jeg bruge det fælles vaskerum?” this means “may” or “can” and asks for permission. It is used before a verb in the pattern “Må jeg bruge ...?” when asking whether you may use something. You could use it when asking permission to use a shared facility.
jeg In “Må jeg bruge det fælles vaskerum?” this means “I” and refers to the person asking the question. It is the subject placed after “Må” in this question. Use “jeg” when referring to yourself.
bruge In “Må jeg bruge det fælles vaskerum?” this means “use” and names the activity the speaker is asking permission to do. It follows “Må jeg” in this question. A useful pattern is “Må jeg bruge ...?” when asking to use a room, machine, or other object.
det In “det fælles vaskerum” this means “the,” while in “Det er åbent nu.” it means “it.” In the first phrase it comes before “fælles vaskerum”; at the start of the second sentence it refers to the laundry room. The exact meaning therefore depends on the phrase in which “det” appears.
fælles In “det fælles vaskerum” this means “shared” or “common” and describes a facility used by more than one person. It comes before the noun “vaskerum.” Use the pattern “fælles + noun” for something shared in a building or group.
vaskerum In “det fælles vaskerum” this means “laundry room,” the room where the washing machines are used. It is the place the speaker wants to use. A useful expression is “det fælles vaskerum” when referring to a shared laundry room.
er In “Det er åbent nu.” this means “is,” describing the current state of the laundry room. In “Er denne maskine ledig?” the same form begins a question about the machine’s state. Use “er” with a description such as “er åbent” or “er ledig.”
åbent In “Det er åbent nu.” this means “open” and says that the laundry room can currently be used. It follows “er” in the description “er åbent.” You can use “er åbent” to say that a room or facility is open.
nu In “Det er åbent nu.” this means “now” and limits the statement to the present time. It appears at the end of the sentence. Use “nu” when giving information about what is true at this moment.
denne In “denne maskine” and “Denne er ledig.” this means “this” and identifies the machine being discussed. It can come directly before “maskine,” or stand on its own when the noun is understood. Use “denne + noun” to point out a particular nearby item.
maskine In “denne maskine” this means “machine,” specifically the washing machine being considered. It is the item whose availability is being checked. A useful expression is “Er denne maskine ledig?” when asking whether a particular machine is free.
ledig In “Er denne maskine ledig?” and “Denne er ledig.” this means “free” or “available,” referring to a machine that is not currently occupied. The reusable expression “er ledig” states or asks about availability. You could use it when checking whether a shared machine or place can be used.
Hvor At the beginning of “Hvor skal jeg stille min kurv?” this means “where” and asks about a location. It is followed by “skal jeg stille” to ask where the basket should be placed. Use “Hvor skal jeg ...?” when asking where to carry out an action.
skal In “Hvor skal jeg stille min kurv?” this expresses “should” or “am supposed to” and asks for an instruction. It comes before “jeg” and is followed by “stille.” Use the pattern “skal jeg + verb” when asking what you should do.
stille In “Hvor skal jeg stille min kurv?” this means “put” or “place” and describes positioning the basket somewhere. It follows “skal jeg.” A useful pattern is “stille + object + place,” as in placing a basket beside a wall.
min In “min kurv” this means “my” and shows that the basket belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It comes directly before “kurv.” Use “min + noun” when referring to something that is yours.
kurv In “min kurv” this means “basket,” the item the speaker wants to place in the laundry room. It is the object of “stille.” You can use “kurv” when talking about a basket for carrying clothes or other items.
Stil In “Stil den ved siden af væggen.” this means “put” or “place” and gives an instruction. It is used at the beginning of the request, followed by the object “den.” Use “Stil + object + location” when telling someone where to place something.
den In “Stil den ved siden af væggen.” this means “it” and refers back to “min kurv.” It appears after “Stil” as the object being placed. Use “den” to refer to the previously mentioned item in a pattern such as “Stil den ...”.
ved siden af In “ved siden af væggen” this whole expression means “beside” or “next to.” The components “ved,” “siden,” and “af” work together: “ved” introduces the location, “siden” supplies the idea of a side, and “af” completes the relation. Use “ved siden af + noun” to specify where something is placed.
væggen In “ved siden af væggen” this means “the wall,” the reference point beside which the basket should be placed. “Væggen” is the definite form related to “væg.” Use it after a location expression when referring to the specific wall being discussed.
tager In “Jeg tager mit tøj ud” this means “take” as part of the expression for taking the clothes out. The complete action is expressed by “tager ... ud,” so “tager” alone does not carry the whole meaning. A reusable pattern is “tager + object + ud” when removing something.
mit In “mit tøj” this means “my” and shows that the clothes belong to or are associated with the speaker. It comes directly before “tøj.” Use “mit + noun” when referring to something that is yours.
tøj In “mit tøj” this means “clothes,” the items being washed and later removed from the machine. It is the object of the action expressed by “tager ... ud.” A useful expression from this context is “mit tøj” when talking about your own clothes.
ud In “Jeg tager mit tøj ud” this means “out” and adds the direction of removal to “tager.” The complete meaning comes from “tager ... ud,” not from “ud” alone. Use the pattern “tager + object + ud” when taking something out of a machine, room, or container.
når In “når vasken er færdig” this means “when” and introduces the time at which the clothes will be taken out. It connects the action “Jeg tager mit tøj ud” with the completion of the wash. Use “når + clause” when one action depends on another event happening.
vasken In “når vasken er færdig” this means “the wash,” referring to the washing cycle in progress. It is the thing described as “færdig.” The form “vasken” is related to “vask” and identifies the specific wash being discussed.
færdig In “vasken er færdig” this means “finished” or “done,” stating that the wash has completed. It follows “er” in the expression “er færdig.” Use “er færdig” for a task, process, or wash that has reached its end.
Hent In “Hent dem med det samme.” this means “collect” or “fetch” and gives a direct request to get the clothes. It comes before the object “dem.” Use “Hent + object” when asking someone to go and get something.
dem In “Hent dem med det samme.” this means “them” and refers to the clothes mentioned earlier. It is the object of “Hent.” Use “dem” after the verb when referring back to several previously mentioned items.
med det samme In “Hent dem med det samme.” this whole expression means “right away” or “immediately.” “Med” introduces the phrase, while “det” and “samme” form its fixed “the same” part; together the three components express immediate action. A new example is “Gør det med det samme,” meaning “Do it right away.”

Grammar Points

denne + noun

denne maskine

DEN-uh muh-SHEE-nuh

this machine

The demonstrative denne comes before a singular common-gender noun, such as maskine.

ved siden af + noun

min kurv ved siden af væggen

men koorv veh SEE-thun eh VEG-un

my basket beside the wall

Ved siden af is a fixed prepositional phrase meaning “beside” or “next to”; the noun follows it.

Danish Vocabulary

bruge verb
BROO-uh to use

Må jeg bruge det fælles vaskerum?

denne pron
DEN-uh this one

Denne er ledig.

fælles adj
FEL-uhs shared; common

det fælles vaskerum

kurv noun
koorv basket
Gender
common

min kurv

ledig adj
LEH-thee free; available

Er denne maskine ledig?

maskine noun
muh-SHEE-nuh machine
Gender
common

Er denne maskine ledig?

min det
men my
Gender
common

min kurv

nu adv
noo now

Det er åbent nu.

stille verb
STEL-uh to put; to place

Hvor skal jeg stille min kurv?

vaskerum noun
VAS-guh-ROHM laundry room
Gender
neuter

det fælles vaskerum

ved siden af prep
veh SEE-thun eh beside; next to

ved siden af væggen

åben adj
OH-bun open åbent
Gender
neuter

Det er åbent nu.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I use the shared laundry room?

Show AnswerMå jeg bruge det fælles vaskerum?

It is open now.

Show AnswerDet er åbent nu.

Is this machine free?

Show AnswerEr denne maskine ledig?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

free; available

Show Answerledig

machine

Show Answermaskine

this one

Show Answerdenne

to use

Show Answerbruge