Managing Back Pain from Desk Work | Learn Danish in English

About This Lesson

Use Managing Back Pain from Desk Work to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Min lænd gør ondt efter at have siddet ved mit skrivebord hele dagen.

men LEND guh ont EF-tuh ahv HAY-vuh SID-uh veh meet SKREE-vuh-bor HAY-luh DAY-en My lower back hurts after sitting at my desk all day.

Din stol giver dig måske ikke nok støtte.

deen STOHL GHEE-vuh dai MOH-skeh IG-uh noh(k) STUH-duh Your chair might not be giving you enough support.

Jeg læner mig også frem, fordi min skærm er for langt væk.

yai LAY-nuh my OH-soh frem foh-DEE men skairm air foh lahngd vek I also lean forward because my monitor is too far away.

Hvis du flytter skærmen tættere på, kan det måske tage noget af presset fra din ryg.

ves doo FLUH-duh skair-men TED-uh-ruh poh kan deh MOH-skeh DAY-uh NOH-uh ahv PRES-uh frah deen rue Moving the screen closer could take some pressure off your back.

Jeg tænkte på at strække ud i korte pauser.

yai TENG-duh poh ah STREK-uh ood ee KOR-duh POW-suh I was thinking about stretching during short breaks.

Forsigtig udstrækning kan måske hjælpe, men stop, hvis det gør smerten værre.

foh-STIG-tig OOD-strek-ning kan moh-SGAY YEL-puh men STOHB ves deh guh SMER-den VAIR-uh Gentle stretching may help, but stop if it increases the pain.

Hvis det fortsætter, bør jeg nok tale med en fagperson.

ves deh foh-TSED-uh buh yai noh(k) TAY-luh meh en FAY-pohr-son If it continues, I should probably see a professional.

Især hvis smerten breder sig eller begynder at påvirke din søvn.

ee-SAIR ves SMER-den BRAY-uh sai EL-uh beh-GUH-nuh ah poh-VAIR-guh deen surn Especially if the pain spreads or starts affecting your sleep.

I denne uge kan jeg lave små ændringer og holde øje med, om de hjælper.

ee DEN-uh OO-uh kan yai LAY-vuh smoh EN-dring-uh oh HOL-duh OY-uh meh om dee YEL-puh This week, I can make small adjustments and track whether they help.

Det er som regel lettere at vurdere konsekvente ændringer end én stor ændring.

deh air som RAY-sul LET-uh-ruh ah vooh-DAIR-uh kon-seh-GVEN-duh EN-dring-uh en ain stohr EN-dring Consistent changes are usually easier to judge than one big change.

Word by Word

Min “Min” means “my” in “Min lænd” and shows that the lower back belongs to the speaker. It is used directly before the owned noun, for example when identifying a body part or personal object.

lænd “lænd” means “lower back” in “Min lænd gør ondt”. It names the specific part of the back that is painful here, and body-part nouns can be used as the subject of the pain expression gør ondt.

gør ondt “gør ondt” means “hurts” in “Min lænd gør ondt”. The verb “gør” and “ondt” work together to express pain: “gør” supplies the action and “ondt” supplies the painful quality. A useful pattern is a body part followed by gør ondt.

efter “efter” means “after” in “efter at have siddet”. It introduces the earlier activity that precedes the pain, and it can link a later result to an earlier event.

at “at” introduces an infinitive in “efter at have siddet” and “at strække ud”. It is used before an action when that action is described as part of a larger expression.

have “have” is the auxiliary in “at have siddet”, helping refer to sitting that happened before the back pain. A useful pattern is at have followed by a completed action form.

siddet “siddet” is the form of sidde used after “have” in “at have siddet”, meaning that the speaker has sat. It is useful when referring to an earlier period of sitting before another event.

ved “ved” means “at” or “by” in “ved mit skrivebord”, locating the sitting at the desk. It is useful for describing where someone is positioned or carrying out an activity.

mit “mit” means “my” before “skrivebord” in “mit skrivebord”. It is placed directly before the noun being identified as belonging to the speaker.

skrivebord “skrivebord” means “desk” in “mit skrivebord”. It names the piece of furniture where the speaker has been sitting, and it can be used after a possessive such as “mit”.

hele “hele” means “whole” or “all” in “hele dagen”. It emphasizes that the time period was complete, and it is useful before a time expression describing an entire period.

dagen “dagen” means “the day” in “hele dagen”. It is the definite form of dag, and together with “hele” it expresses the duration “all day”.

Din “Din” means “your” in “Din stol”. It identifies the chair as belonging to the person being addressed and is placed before the noun it describes.

stol “stol” means “chair” in “Din stol giver dig måske ikke nok støtte”. It is the object described as providing support, and it can follow a possessive such as “Din”.

giver “giver” is the present form of give and means “gives” in “Din stol giver dig måske ikke nok støtte”. The chair is the source, while “dig” identifies who receives the support. A useful pattern is a subject followed by giver and a recipient.

dig “dig” means “you” as the object receiving something in “giver dig”. It identifies the person affected by or receiving the action, and it follows the verb here.

måske “måske” means “maybe” in “giver dig måske ikke nok støtte”. It signals that the speaker is making a possibility rather than a certain statement, and it can be placed near the action being qualified.

ikke “ikke” means “not” and negates the support statement in “ikke nok støtte”. It is used with the verb phrase to say that the chair does not provide the required amount.

nok “nok” means “enough” in “ikke nok støtte”. It describes a sufficient amount and is placed before the noun whose amount is being evaluated.

støtte “støtte” means “support” in “nok støtte”. It is the thing the chair may fail to provide, and it can follow an amount expression such as “nok”.

Jeg “Jeg” means “I” and is the speaker’s subject in “Jeg læner mig også frem”. It is used when the speaker describes their own action or condition.

læner “læner” is the present form of læne and means “leans” in “læner mig frem”. It describes the speaker’s posture and is used here with the reflexive form “mig” and the direction “frem”.

mig “mig” is the reflexive object in “Jeg læner mig frem”, referring back to the speaker. It shows that the speaker is leaning their own body, and it follows the verb in this construction.

også “også” means “also” in “læner mig også frem”. It adds this leaning action to the problems already mentioned, and it is placed near the action being added.

frem “frem” means “forward” in “læner mig også frem”. It gives the direction of the movement or posture and is useful after a verb describing leaning or movement.

fordi “fordi” means “because” and introduces the reason in “fordi min skærm er for langt væk”. It connects an action or situation with the explanation for it.

skærm “skærm” means “screen” or “monitor” in “min skærm”. It identifies the device whose position causes the speaker to lean forward, and it can follow a possessive such as “min”.

er “er” is a form of være meaning “is” in “er for langt væk” and “Det er som regel lettere”. It links a subject with a description or evaluation, such as distance or difficulty.

for “for” means “too” in “for langt væk”. It marks that the distance is greater than suitable or wanted, and it is placed before the word describing the excessive degree.

langt “langt” means “far” in “for langt væk”. It describes the distance and works together with “væk” to express how far something is from the speaker.

væk “væk” means “away” in “for langt væk”. It completes the distance expression with “langt”, and the full phrase describes something located too far away.

Hvis “Hvis” means “if” and introduces the condition in “Hvis du flytter skærmen tættere på”. It is used to describe an action whose possible result is discussed afterward.

du “du” means “you” and is the subject of “flytter”. It addresses the other person as the one who could make the adjustment, especially in a conditional suggestion.

flytter “flytter” is the present form of flytte and means “move” in “Hvis du flytter skærmen”. It describes the proposed adjustment and follows the subject “du” in the conditional clause.

skærmen “skærmen” means “the screen” in “flytter skærmen”. It is the definite form of skærm and refers to the known screen that should be moved.

tættere “tættere” means “closer” in “tættere på”. It compares the proposed position with the current one, and it is completed by “på” in this expression.

på “på” helps express “closer to” in “tættere på” and introduces what is being considered in “tænkte på at strække ud”. Its meaning depends on the construction: it marks a destination or relation in the first phrase and the topic of thought in the second.

kan “kan” is a modal form meaning “can” or “could” in “kan det måske tage” and “kan måske hjælpe”. It presents a possible result and is followed by an infinitive such as “tage” or “hjælpe”.

det “det” means “it” in “kan det måske tage”, referring to the proposed screen adjustment, and it introduces the evaluation in “Det er som regel lettere”. It can refer to a situation or function as the introductory subject of a general statement.

tage “tage” is the infinitive after “kan” in “tage noget af presset fra din ryg”. Here it means “take” or remove some pressure, and the construction keeps the thing removed and its source after the verb.

noget “noget” means “some” in “noget af presset”. It refers to an unspecified amount of the pressure and is used with “af” before the larger amount or whole.

af “af” means “of” or “from” in “noget af presset”. It marks that only part of the pressure is involved, and “noget af” is a useful pattern for referring to part of something.

presset “presset” means “the pressure” in “noget af presset”. It is the definite form of pres, and here it names the pressure that may be reduced.

fra “fra” means “from” in “fra din ryg”. It identifies the source or place from which the pressure is removed, and it is useful for marking origin or separation.

ryg “ryg” means “back” in “din ryg”. It identifies the body area affected by the pressure, and it can follow a possessive when referring to someone’s body.

tænkte “tænkte” is the past form of tænke and means “was thinking” in “Jeg tænkte på at strække ud”. The pattern tænkte på introduces an idea or action that the speaker was considering.

i “i” means “in” or “during” in “i korte pauser”, while the capitalized form “I” in “I denne uge” means “in” as part of a time expression at the start of a sentence. It is useful before a place or period of time.

strække “strække” is the infinitive in “at strække ud” and means “stretch”. Its full meaning here comes from the expression with “ud”, and it follows “at” when the action is introduced.

ud “ud” is the particle in “strække ud”, contributing the outward or stretching-out sense of the expression. The two components work together to describe stretching as an activity.

korte “korte” means “short” in “korte pauser”. It describes the limited duration of the breaks and is placed before the noun it modifies.

pauser “pauser” means “breaks” in “korte pauser”. It refers to short interruptions during work, and it combines naturally with a duration or size description such as “korte”.

Forsigtig “Forsigtig” means “gentle” or “careful” in “Forsigtig udstrækning”. It recommends that the stretching be done cautiously, and it is placed before the activity it describes.

udstrækning “udstrækning” means “stretching” in “Forsigtig udstrækning”. It names the activity being discussed, and it can be modified by an adjective such as “Forsigtig” when giving practical advice.

hjælpe “hjælpe” is the infinitive after “kan måske” in “kan måske hjælpe”, meaning “help”. A useful pattern is a modal verb followed by hjælpe when discussing a possible benefit.

men “men” means “but” and contrasts the possible benefit of stretching with the instruction to stop in “men stop”. It is useful for linking an encouraging statement to a limitation or warning.

stop “stop” is a direct instruction meaning “stop”. In this dialogue it tells the listener to end the stretching if the pain becomes worse, and it is useful when giving an immediate safety instruction.

gør “gør” is a form of gøre meaning “makes” in “gør smerten værre”. Here it links the action to a change in the pain, and the pattern gør + object + description expresses that something causes a result.

smerten “smerten” means “the pain” in “gør smerten værre”. It is the definite form of smerte and functions as the thing whose condition becomes worse.

værre “værre” means “worse” in “gør smerten værre”. It describes an increase in severity and follows the object in the pattern that says something makes an experience worse.

fortsætter “fortsætter” is the present form of fortsætte and means “continues” in “Hvis det fortsætter”. It describes a problem remaining in progress and is useful in a condition about what happens next.

bør “bør” means “should” and expresses a recommendation in “bør jeg nok tale”. It is followed by an infinitive and is useful when saying what someone ought to do.

tale “tale” is the infinitive after “bør” in “tale med en fagperson”, meaning “talk” or “speak”. The reusable pattern is tale med followed by the person one consults or speaks to.

med “med” means “with” in “tale med en fagperson”. It identifies the conversation partner and is used after tale when describing whom someone speaks to.

fagperson “fagperson” means “professional” in “tale med en fagperson”. It refers here to someone with relevant professional expertise who can be consulted if the problem continues.

Især “Især” means “especially” and highlights a particularly important condition in “Især hvis smerten breder sig”. It is useful at the beginning of a follow-up statement that singles out one case.

breder “breder” is the form of brede used in “breder sig”, meaning “spreads”. It describes the pain extending beyond its original area and requires the reflexive component “sig” in this expression.

sig “sig” is the reflexive pronoun in “breder sig”, referring back to the pain. It is part of the expression for something spreading and follows the verb “breder”.

eller “eller” means “or” and links the two possible warning signs in “breder sig eller begynder”. It is used between alternatives or separate conditions.

begynder “begynder” is the present form of begynde and means “begins” or “starts” in “begynder at påvirke”. It introduces an activity that is starting, followed here by “at” and an infinitive.

påvirke “påvirke” is the infinitive after “begynder at” and means “affect” in “påvirke din søvn”. The reusable pattern is begynde at followed by an action that starts to affect something.

søvn “søvn” means “sleep” in “din søvn”. It is the area affected by the pain, and it can be used after verbs describing an effect on someone’s sleep.

denne “denne” means “this” in “denne uge”. It points to the current or relevant week and is placed before the time noun it identifies.

uge “uge” means “week” in “denne uge”. It names the time period for the planned adjustments and is used here as part of a time expression.

lave “lave” is the infinitive after “kan” in “kan jeg lave små ændringer”, meaning “make” or “do”. The expression lave ændringer is useful when describing modifications to a routine or situation.

små “små” means “small” in “små ændringer”. It describes changes that are limited in scale rather than one major adjustment, and it is placed before the noun.

ændringer “ændringer” means “changes” or “adjustments” in “lave små ændringer”. It refers to modifications the speaker can make to the work setup or routine, and it follows “små” here.

holde øje med “holde øje med” means “keep track of” or “monitor” in “holde øje med, om de hjælper”. The components “holde”, “øje”, and “med” work together as one construction for watching or monitoring something. A useful pattern is holde øje med followed by the thing being monitored.

om “om” means “whether” in “om de hjælper”. It introduces the question being checked, namely whether the changes have a helpful effect, and it is useful after an expression of monitoring or checking.

de “de” means “they” in “om de hjælper” and refers back to “ændringer”. It is the subject of “hjælper”, so it identifies the changes as the things being evaluated.

hjælper “hjælper” is the present form of hjælpe and means “help” in “om de hjælper”. The changes are the subject, and the phrase asks whether they produce a helpful result.

som “som” contributes the meaning “as” in the fixed expression “som regel”. Together, “som regel” means “usually” or “generally”, and it is used to qualify a general statement.

regel “regel” means “rule” in the expression “som regel”. The whole expression means “as a rule” or “generally”, and it is useful when describing what normally happens.

lettere “lettere” means “easier” in “lettere at vurdere”. It compares the difficulty of judging the changes, and the pattern lettere at is followed by an infinitive.

vurdere “vurdere” is the infinitive after “lettere at” and means “assess” or “judge” in “vurdere konsekvente ændringer”. It refers to evaluating whether the changes are helping.

konsekvente “konsekvente” means “consistent” in “konsekvente ændringer”. It describes changes that are maintained in a steady way, and it is placed before the noun it modifies.

end “end” means “than” in “lettere at vurdere konsekvente ændringer end én stor ændring”. It marks the second side of the comparison and follows the comparative idea “lettere”.

stor “stor” means “big” or “large” in “én stor ændring”. It describes the scale of the single change being compared with the consistent smaller changes.

ændring “ændring” means “change” in “én stor ændring”. It is the singular form related to “ændringer” and names the one major adjustment used in the comparison.

Grammar Points

gøre ondt

Min lænd gør ondt.

men LEND guh ont

My lower back hurts.

Danish uses gøre ondt literally “do pain”; the body part is the grammatical subject.

læne sig frem

Jeg læner mig frem.

yai LAY-nuh my frem

I lean forward.

Reflexive verbs use a pronoun matching the subject: jeg takes mig, while the infinitive uses sig.

Danish Vocabulary

flytte verb

FLUH-duh to move flytter

Hvis du flytter skærmen tættere på

gøre ondt phrase

guh ont to hurt gør ondt

Min lænd gør ondt

lænd noun

LEND lower back

Gender: common

Min lænd gør ondt

læne sig frem phrase

LAY-nuh sai frem to lean forward læner mig frem

Jeg læner mig også frem

pres noun

pres pressure presset

Gender: neuter
Definite: singular

noget af presset fra din ryg

ryg noun

rue back

Gender: common

fra din ryg

sidde verb

SID-uh to sit siddet

efter at have siddet ved mit skrivebord

skrivebord noun

SKREE-vuh-bor desk

Gender: neuter

ved mit skrivebord

skærm noun

skairm screen; monitor

Gender: common

min skærm er for langt væk

stol noun

STOHL chair

Gender: common

Din stol giver dig måske ikke nok støtte

støtte noun

STUH-duh support

Gender: common

nok støtte

tættere på adv

TED-uh-ruh poh closer

flytter skærmen tættere på

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to move

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flytter

lower back

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lænd

to sit

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siddet

support

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støtte