# Learn Danish with NativePal > Learn Danish with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: Dansk - Speakers: 6+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland - Writing system: Latin alphabet, 29 letters - FSI difficulty category: I - Estimated study to professional working proficiency: 600 hours (about 24 weeks full-time, per the US Foreign Service Institute) - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about Danish - **Stød**: A catch in the throat that distinguishes otherwise identical words, such as hun (she) and hund (dog). It is never written, so you have to learn it by ear. - **A wide gap between spelling and speech**: Danish swallows consonants and reduces endings heavily, so a written sentence and its spoken form can seem barely related. Grammar is simple; listening is the bottleneck. - **Two genders, en and et**: Common and neuter nouns take different articles and adjective endings, and the assignment mostly has to be memorised. - **Verb-second word order**: Starting a sentence with a time or place expression pushes the subject after the verb, unlike English. ## How you practise Danish in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Danish stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed Danish vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Danish aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform Danish every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Danish lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Danish? The US Foreign Service Institute puts Danish at roughly 600 hours of instruction — about 24 weeks full-time — to reach professional working proficiency. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner: most learners manage it inside the first few months. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about Danish grammar? Stød: A catch in the throat that distinguishes otherwise identical words, such as hun (she) and hund (dog). It is never written, so you have to learn it by ear. A wide gap between spelling and speech: Danish swallows consonants and reduces endings heavily, so a written sentence and its spoken form can seem barely related. Grammar is simple; listening is the bottleneck. Two genders, en and et: Common and neuter nouns take different articles and adjective endings, and the assignment mostly has to be memorised. Verb-second word order: Starting a sentence with a time or place expression pushes the subject after the verb, unlike English. ### Is Danish hard for English speakers? Easy to read, notoriously hard to hear. The English alphabet plus æ, ø and å. Reading is easy from day one; hearing is the hard part. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Danish? NativePal levels your Danish practice with CEFR, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs A1 through to C2. ### Where is Danish spoken? Danish is spoken in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, with 6+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Danish as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Danish assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Danish pronunciation? Yes. You read Danish aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking Danish, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning Danish? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Danish? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Danish without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)