Bedeutung
Focused on personal tasks.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase reflects the 'Danish Bubble'—a social phenomenon where people respect each other's privacy to the point of appearing distant. It's not rudeness, but a form of politeness. In Danish offices, 'at have travlt med sit eget' is often respected during 'deep work' hours. Interrupting someone who is clearly 'travlt med sit eget' is seen as poor etiquette. In Copenhagen, this phrase is a daily reality. In smaller Jutland villages, having 'for travlt med sit eget' might be seen as a slight against the community spirit (lokalsamfundet). Modern Danes use this phrase to describe 'digital isolation'—when a family sits in the same room but everyone is on their own device.
The 'Sit' Rule
Always double-check your subject. If you say 'Han har travlt med hans eget,' you are saying he is busy with SOMEONE ELSE'S stuff. Use 'sit' for his own!
Polite Rejection
This is the perfect phrase to use if you want to say 'no' to a social invitation without being rude. It sounds professional and personal at the same time.
Bedeutung
Focused on personal tasks.
The 'Sit' Rule
Always double-check your subject. If you say 'Han har travlt med hans eget,' you are saying he is busy with SOMEONE ELSE'S stuff. Use 'sit' for his own!
Polite Rejection
This is the perfect phrase to use if you want to say 'no' to a social invitation without being rude. It sounds professional and personal at the same time.
Don't over-use
If you always say you have 'travlt med dit eget,' people might stop asking you to join things. Balance it with 'overskud' (surplus energy).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun (mit, dit, sit, vores, deres).
Vi kan ikke komme til festen, fordi vi har for travlt med ______ eget.
Since the subject is 'vi' (we), the possessive must be 'vores'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct way to say 'She is busy with her own stuff.'
In Danish, you use 'har travlt' (not 'er') and 'sit' (reflexive) for her own things.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: Your neighbor asks why you haven't mowed the lawn lately.
You are talking about yourself, so use 'mit'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hvorfor svarede Peter ikke på min besked? B: Han har nok bare ______ ______ ______ ______.
The present perfect 'haft travlt' fits best to explain a past lack of response.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Busy vs. Minding Business
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenVi kan ikke komme til festen, fordi vi har for travlt med ______ eget.
Since the subject is 'vi' (we), the possessive must be 'vores'.
Choose the correct way to say 'She is busy with her own stuff.'
In Danish, you use 'har travlt' (not 'er') and 'sit' (reflexive) for her own things.
Situation: Your neighbor asks why you haven't mowed the lawn lately.
You are talking about yourself, so use 'mit'.
A: Hvorfor svarede Peter ikke på min besked? B: Han har nok bare ______ ______ ______ ______.
The present perfect 'haft travlt' fits best to explain a past lack of response.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenIt depends. If you say 'Jeg har travlt med mit eget,' it might sound like you aren't doing company work. Better to say 'Jeg har travlt med mine opgaver.'
Yes! 'Vi har travlt med vores eget' is very common for families or teams.
'Sit eget' is more abstract and idiomatic. 'Sine egne ting' is more literal (his own things/objects).
In this specific phrase, it is almost always 'eget' (neuter) because it refers to the abstract concept of 'one's own [business/life]'.
Yes, but usually to describe a social trend rather than a personal excuse.
No, that sounds like you are physically busy with your body. Stick to 'mit eget'.
Use 'Pas dig selv' or 'Pas din egen butik'. 'Have travlt med sit eget' is more about being busy than being told to stay away.
In this phrase, yes. It describes the state of having a lot to do.
Yes, 'Børnene har travlt med deres eget' is a great way to say they are playing happily by themselves.
Yes: 'Jeg havde travlt med mit eget.'
Yes, it is used all over Denmark, though the pronunciation of 'travlt' might vary slightly.
Absolutely. It's very common in 'Sorry I didn't reply' texts.
To have 'overskud til andre' (energy for others).
Not necessarily. It usually just implies a lack of time or a strong focus.
Verwandte Redewendungen
at passe sig selv
similarTo keep to oneself
at have mange jern i ilden
builds onTo have many irons in the fire
at blande sig udenom
contrastTo stay out of it
at være i sin egen verden
similarTo be in one's own world
