Politely discussing a disappointing fish dish | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Politely discussing a disappointing fish dish to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Undskyld, må jeg spørge om fisken? Den er lidt tør.

oon-SGILL, moh yai SPUR-uh om FESS-gun? den air lit tur. Excuse me, could I ask about the fish? It is a bit dry.

Det er jeg ked af. Jeg tjekker det med køkkenet.

deh air yai KAY ahf. yai CHEK-er deh meh KUR-gun-uh. I'm sorry about that. I'll check with the kitchen.

Smagen er god, men konsistensen er ikke, som jeg havde forventet.

SMEH-un air goh, men kon-sis-DEN-sun air IK-uh, som yai HAY-uh for-VEN-duh. The flavor is nice, but the texture is not what I expected.

Lidt sauce ved siden af kunne måske hjælpe.

lit SOW-suh veh SEE-thun ahf KOO-nuh MOS-guh YELP-uh. A little sauce on the side might help.

Vil du have, at jeg kommer med noget?

veel doo HAY-vuh, ad yai KOM-uh meh NOH-uh? Would you like me to bring some?

Det ville hjælpe, så længe den ikke er for tung.

deh VEL-uh YELP-uh, soh LENG-uh den EG-uh air for TOONG. That would help, as long as it is not too heavy.

Jeg kan komme med en lille skål sauce og give køkkenet besked.

yai kan KOM-uh meh en LIL-uh SKOHL SOW-suh oh GEE-vuh KUR-gun-uh beh-SGAYTH. I can bring a small dish of sauce and let the kitchen know.

Jeg ville gerne nævne det, før jeg spiste mere af den.

yai VEL-uh GAIR-nuh NEV-nuh deh, fur yai SBEH-stuh MAY-uh ahf den. I wanted to mention it before I ate more of it.

Sig endelig til, hvis den stadig er tør, efter du har prøvet saucen.

say EN-uh-lee til, vis den STAY-thee air tur, EF-ter doo har PRUR-vuh SOW-sun. Please tell me if it is still dry after you try the sauce.

Vi kan finde en anden løsning.

vee kan FEN-uh en AN-un LURSS-ning. We can find another solution.

Word by Word

Undskyld “Undskyld” opens the conversation politely and means “excuse me” here. It is useful when addressing a server or other person before making a request or comment.

må “må” asks for permission in “må jeg spørge om fisken?” and means “may” here. It is followed by the subject and an infinitive, so you can use “må jeg” when politely asking whether you may do something.

jeg “jeg” means “I” and is the person asking about the fish. It appears before the verb in “må jeg spørge” and can be used to identify yourself as the person doing an action.

spørge “spørge” means “ask” in “må jeg spørge om fisken?” It is the infinitive used after må; the pattern “spørge om” is used when asking about a subject.

om “om” means “about” after spørge, so “spørge om fisken” means “ask about the fish.” Use it before the topic of a question or inquiry.

fisken “fisken” means “the fish” in the restaurant conversation. It is the definite form of fisk, and it is the object of “spørge om” here. You would use it when referring to a specific fish dish already understood in the situation.

Den “Den” refers to the fish in “Den er lidt tør,” meaning “it” or “that one.” Later, the lowercase form den refers to the sauce in “den ikke er for tung,” so the referent is identified from context. It is useful for referring back to a specific item without repeating its noun.

er “er” means “is” in “Den er lidt tør” and describes the fish’s condition. It is a form of være and is used to link a subject with a description such as tør or god.

lidt “lidt” softens the complaint in “lidt tør” and means “a little” or “slightly.” It also describes a small amount in “Lidt sauce,” so it can be used with both a quality and a quantity.

tør “tør” means “dry” when describing the fish in “Den er lidt tør.” It is also reused for the possible result after the sauce in “stadig er tør,” which is useful when describing food texture.

Det “Det” refers to the situation or result rather than naming a specific object in “Det er jeg ked af” and “Det ville hjælpe.” It is useful for referring back to something just mentioned, such as a problem or a proposed action.

ked af “ked af” is the expression for being sorry or expressing regret in “Det er jeg ked af.” Here ked contributes the feeling of regret, while af completes the fixed expression; together they politely acknowledge the customer’s complaint. Use “jeg er ked af” when apologizing about a situation.

af In “Det er jeg ked af,” “af” is part of the fixed expression ked af, meaning “sorry” or “regretful.” It does not mean “of” independently in this sentence, so the whole expression should be reused together when apologizing.

tjekker “tjekker” means “check” in “Jeg tjekker det med køkkenet.” It is the present form of tjekke and describes the server’s immediate action. The phrase “tjekker det med køkkenet” is useful when confirming an issue with the relevant staff.

med “med” means “with” in “tjekker det med køkkenet,” identifying the people or department consulted. It is also used in “kommer med” when someone brings something. Use it before the person or group involved in checking or bringing.

køkkenet “køkkenet” means “the kitchen,” referring here to the restaurant staff working there. It is the definite form of køkken. In “give køkkenet besked,” it identifies the staff who should receive the information.

Smagen “Smagen” means “the flavor” or “the taste” in “Smagen er god.” It is the definite form of smag and refers to the specific flavor of the dish. Use it when evaluating how a particular food tastes.

god “god” means “good” or “nice” in “Smagen er god.” It gives a positive evaluation of the flavor, even though the speaker has a problem with the texture. The pattern “er god” can describe a food’s quality.

men “men” means “but” and introduces the contrast between the good flavor and the disappointing texture. It is useful for combining a positive observation with a reservation or complaint.

konsistensen “konsistensen” means “the texture” or “the consistency” of the food. It is the definite form of konsistens and is the specific quality being compared with the speaker’s expectation. Use it when discussing whether food feels right when eaten.

ikke “ikke” means “not” and negates the description in “ikke, som jeg havde forventet.” It is placed before the comparison clause here. Use it to state that an expected quality or result is absent.

som “som” introduces the comparison in “ikke, som jeg havde forventet,” meaning “as” or “what” in the sense of matching an expectation. It connects the actual texture with the way the speaker expected it to be.

havde “havde” means “had” in “jeg havde forventet.” It is a form of have used together with forventet to refer to an expectation held before the current evaluation. The pattern “jeg havde forventet” is useful when explaining what you thought would happen.

forventet “forventet” means “expected” in “jeg havde forventet.” It is the participle of forvente and appears with havde in this expression. Use it to describe a result or quality that was anticipated beforehand.

sauce “sauce” means “sauce” and names the food accompaniment suggested in the conversation. It appears in “Lidt sauce ved siden af” and “en lille skål sauce.” Use it when requesting or describing a sauce served separately.

ved “ved” contributes the idea of being beside or at a place in “ved siden af.” Together with siden af, it describes the sauce as served separately on the side. The expression is useful when specifying where an accompaniment should be placed.

siden “siden” means “side” within “ved siden af,” which means “on the side” here. It works with ved and af as part of the location expression rather than standing alone with this meaning. Use the full expression when requesting a separate accompaniment.

kunne “kunne” expresses a possible helpful effect in “kunne måske hjælpe,” meaning “could” or “might.” It is followed by the infinitive hjælpe and makes the suggestion less direct. Use it when proposing that something may solve or improve a problem.

måske “måske” means “perhaps” or “maybe” and makes the suggestion in “kunne måske hjælpe” tentative. It is useful when offering a possible solution without claiming that it will definitely work.

hjælpe “hjælpe” means “help” in “kunne måske hjælpe” and “Det ville hjælpe.” It is the infinitive after the modal forms kunne and ville. Use it when discussing whether an action or addition may improve a situation.

Vil “Vil” begins the polite question “Vil du have, at jeg kommer med noget?” and asks whether the customer would like something. It is a form of ville used in a question, and the pattern is useful when offering to provide an item.

du “du” means “you” and identifies the customer as the person being offered the sauce. It appears after Vil in the question. Use it when addressing one person directly.

have “have” contributes the idea of wanting or receiving something in “Vil du have, at jeg kommer med noget?” The full construction asks whether the person would like the speaker to do the following action. Use “vil du have” when politely offering an item or service.

at “at” introduces the action requested in “Vil du have, at jeg kommer med noget?” It links have with the clause describing what the speaker may do. This pattern is useful for asking whether someone wants another person to take an action.

kommer “kommer” means “comes” in its basic sense, but in “kommer med noget” it describes bringing something along. It is the present form of komme and appears after jeg. Use “kommer med” when offering to bring an item to someone.

noget “noget” means “something” or “some” in “kommer med noget.” It refers here to an unspecified amount of sauce. Use it when the item is understood from context but is not named again.

ville “ville” means “would” in “Det ville hjælpe,” describing a possible result if the sauce is added. It makes the statement conditional rather than presenting the help as certain. Use it when saying that a proposed action would improve a situation.

så længe “så længe” means “as long as” in “så længe den ikke er for tung” and sets a condition for accepting the sauce. Here så and længe work together as one conditional expression, not as separate meanings. Use it to accept something provided that a stated condition is met.

for “for” means “too” in “for tung,” showing that the sauce should not exceed an acceptable heaviness. It comes directly before the quality being limited. Use it to say that a quality is excessive.

tung “tung” means “heavy” in “den ikke er for tung,” referring to the sauce’s character or richness in this context. It is used after for to express the limit the customer wants. Use it when describing food that may feel overly substantial.

kan “kan” means “can” in “Jeg kan komme med” and “Vi kan finde.” It expresses ability or an available option in the server’s offers. Use it before an infinitive when saying what someone is able or willing to do.

en “en” marks one non-specific item in “en lille skål sauce,” meaning “a” or “an.” It introduces the bowl before it is identified as a particular object. Use it before a singular noun when referring to one unspecified item.

lille “lille” means “small” or “little” in “en lille skål sauce.” It describes the size of the bowl and helps make the offer more specific. Use it before a noun when describing a small item.

skål “skål” means “bowl” or “dish” in “en lille skål sauce.” It identifies the container in which the server will bring the sauce. Use it when specifying a small serving container for food.

og “og” means “and” and joins the two actions in “komme med en lille skål sauce og give køkkenet besked.” It is useful for connecting actions performed by the same person.

give “give” means “give” in the expression “give køkkenet besked,” where the server conveys information to the kitchen. The complete expression means “let the kitchen know,” while give supplies the action of passing something on. Use it in this pattern when notifying another person or group.

besked “besked” means “message” or “notice” in “give køkkenet besked.” In this expression, it is the information passed to the kitchen rather than a physical object. Use it when someone needs to be informed about an issue or request.

gerne “gerne” means “gladly” or “would like to” in “Jeg ville gerne nævne det.” It makes the speaker’s intention polite and willing rather than forceful. Use “ville gerne” when politely expressing what you wanted or would like to do.

nævne “nævne” means “mention” in “Jeg ville gerne nævne det.” It describes bringing the problem to the server’s attention before eating more. Use it when briefly raising a point or issue in a conversation.

før “før” means “before” and introduces the earlier action in “før jeg spiste mere af den.” It places the speaker’s mention before continuing to eat. Use it before an action or clause when explaining its timing.

spiste “spiste” means “ate” in “før jeg spiste mere af den.” It is the past form of spise and describes the eating that the speaker had not yet continued. Use it when recounting an eating action in the past.

mere “mere” means “more” in “spiste mere af den,” referring to an additional amount of the dish. Together with af den, it preserves the meaning “more of it.” Use it when describing an increased amount of something already being discussed.

Sig “Sig” means “tell” or “say” in the polite instruction “Sig endelig til.” It is the form used to ask the customer to communicate the result after trying the sauce. Use this expression when inviting someone to report a problem or change.

endelig “endelig” adds friendly emphasis in “Sig endelig til,” meaning “please do let me know.” It encourages the listener to speak up rather than keeping the problem to themselves. Use it in this kind of invitation when you genuinely want the other person to respond.

til “til” completes the expression “Sig endelig til,” which means “let me know” in this context. It directs the requested information toward the person being addressed. Use the full expression when asking someone to report back.

hvis “hvis” means “if” and introduces the condition in “hvis den stadig er tør.” It connects the possible continued problem with the offer of another solution. Use it to state a condition that may or may not occur.

stadig “stadig” means “still” in “stadig er tør,” showing that the dryness may continue after the sauce is tried. It is useful for describing a condition that remains unchanged over time.

efter “efter” means “after” in “efter du har prøvet saucen.” It introduces the later action used as the point for checking the fish again. Use it before an action or clause when describing what happens afterward.

har “har” works with prøvet in “har prøvet saucen” to describe an action completed before the result is checked. It is a form of have used as an auxiliary here. This pattern is useful when referring to something someone has already tried.

prøvet “prøvet” means “tried” in “har prøvet saucen.” It is the participle of prøve and appears with har in the completed-action expression. Use it when asking whether someone has tested or tasted something.

saucen “saucen” means “the sauce” in “har prøvet saucen,” referring to the specific sauce brought by the server. It is the definite form of sauce. Use it when the sauce has already been identified in the conversation.

Vi “Vi” means “we” in “Vi kan finde en anden løsning,” referring to the server and the restaurant team together with the customer. It is useful when presenting a solution as a shared effort.

finde “finde” means “find” in “kan finde en anden løsning.” It is the infinitive after kan and describes discovering or arranging another solution. Use it after kan when offering to work out an alternative.

anden “anden” means “another” or “different” in “en anden løsning.” It shows that the proposed solution will not be the first approach already discussed. Use it before a noun when offering an alternative.

løsning “løsning” means “solution” in “finde en anden løsning.” It refers to a way of addressing the dry dish if the sauce does not solve the problem. Use it when discussing an answer to a practical difficulty.

Grammar Points

så længe + helsætning

Så længe fisken er tør, kan jeg prøve.

soh LENG-uh FESS-gun air TUR, kan yai PRUR-vuh.

As long as the fish is dry, I can try.

så længe introducerer en betingelse. I ledsætningen står verbet efter subjektet: fisken er.

før + helsætning

Før jeg prøver, tjekker jeg konsistensen.

fur yai PRUR-vuh, CHEK-er yai kon-sis-DEN-sun.

Before I try, I check the texture.

før introducerer en tidsledsætning. Efter den kommer hovedsætningen med verbet på anden plads: tjekker jeg.

Danish Vocabulary

fisk noun

FESSK fish fisken

Gender: common

Må jeg spørge om fisken?

forvente verb

for-VEN-tuh expect forventet

Som jeg havde forventet.

ked af adj

KAY ahf sorry; regretful

Det er jeg ked af.

konsistens noun

kon-sis-DENS texture; consistency konsistensen

Gender: common

Konsistensen er ikke, som jeg havde forventet.

køkken noun

KUR-gun kitchen køkkenet

Gender: neuter

Jeg tjekker det med køkkenet.

lidt adv

lit a little; slightly

Den er lidt tør.

sauce noun

SOW-suh sauce saucen

Gender: common

En lille skål sauce.

smag noun

SMAY flavor; taste smagen

Gender: common

Smagen er god.

spørge om verb

SPUR-uh om ask about

Må jeg spørge om fisken?

tjekke verb

CHEK-uh check tjekker

Jeg tjekker det med køkkenet.

tør adj

TUR dry

Den er lidt tør.

undskyld intj

oon-SGILL excuse me; sorry

Undskyld, må jeg spørge om fisken?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

We can find another solution.

Show Answer

Vi kan finde en anden løsning.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

flavor; taste

Show Answer

smagen

excuse me; sorry

Show Answer

undskyld

fish

Show Answer

fisken

kitchen

Show Answer

køkkenet