Bedeutung
Requesting information verbally.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Danish schools, students are taught that 'der findes ingen dumme spørgsmål' (there are no stupid questions). This encourages a very active 'stille spørgsmål' culture from a young age. In Greenlandic culture, which is part of the Danish Realm, silence is often valued. While 'at stille et spørgsmål' is grammatically the same in Danish-Greenlandic contexts, one might wait longer for an answer than in Copenhagen. Danish workplaces have a very flat hierarchy. It is perfectly normal for a junior employee to 'stille et kritisk spørgsmål' to the CEO during a town hall meeting. Danish journalists are known for being very direct. They often use the phrase 'Lad mig stille det på en anden måde' (Let me ask it in another way) when a politician is avoiding an answer.
The 'Light Verb' Rule
Remember that 'stille' is a light verb here. It carries the grammar, but 'spørgsmål' carries the meaning. Focus on the noun!
No 'Ask' for Nouns
Never use 'spørge' with the word 'spørgsmål'. It's the #1 giveaway that you're translating from English.
Bedeutung
Requesting information verbally.
The 'Light Verb' Rule
Remember that 'stille' is a light verb here. It carries the grammar, but 'spørgsmål' carries the meaning. Focus on the noun!
No 'Ask' for Nouns
Never use 'spørge' with the word 'spørgsmål'. It's the #1 giveaway that you're translating from English.
Be Direct
Danes appreciate direct questions. You don't need much 'small talk' before you 'stiller et spørgsmål'.
Teste dich selbst
Which verb is correct when using the noun 'spørgsmål'?
Jeg vil gerne ____ et spørgsmål.
In Danish, you always 'stille' a 'spørgsmål'.
Fill in the past tense of 'stille'.
I går ____ han et meget svært spørgsmål.
'Stillede' is the past tense form of the regular verb 'stille'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
Elev: Undskyld, må jeg ____? Lærer: Ja, hvad vil du spørge om?
This is the standard polite way to interrupt in a classroom.
Match the Danish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all variations of questioning in Danish.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Danish vs. English
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJeg vil gerne ____ et spørgsmål.
In Danish, you always 'stille' a 'spørgsmål'.
I går ____ han et meget svært spørgsmål.
'Stillede' is the past tense form of the regular verb 'stille'.
Elev: Undskyld, må jeg ____? Lærer: Ja, hvad vil du spørge om?
This is the standard polite way to interrupt in a classroom.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are all variations of questioning in Danish.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, that is perfectly natural and means 'May I ask?'. But if you add 'a question', you must use 'stille'.
It is neutral. It works in both a pub and a palace.
It is 'at stille spørgsmål' (to ask questions). Note that 'et' is removed.
Danish has many silent consonants. In this case, the 'rgsm' cluster is too hard to pronounce, so the 'g' dropped out over time.
No, that sounds like you are 'creating' or 'inventing' a question, not asking one.
You say 'at stille en masse spørgsmål'.
It is always 'til' (to). 'Jeg stiller et spørgsmål til dig'.
Yes, it's very common to write 'Jeg skriver for at stille et spørgsmål angående...'
'Spørge' is the action (verb), 'stille et spørgsmål' is the full expression (noun-based). The latter is often preferred in writing.
Yes, you can 'stille krav' (make demands) or 'stille betingelser' (set conditions).
Verwandte Redewendungen
at spørge om noget
similarto ask about something
at rejse et spørgsmål
specialized formto raise a question/issue
at besvare et spørgsmål
contrastto answer a question
at stille spørgsmålstegn ved
builds onto question/doubt something
