Bedeutung
There is still much to do.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Danes use this phrase to avoid sounding 'smart-alecky' or overconfident. It aligns with the cultural value of being realistic. Across the Nordics, there is a shared appreciation for the 'long journey' metaphor, likely due to the historical difficulty of winter travel. In Danish meetings, this phrase is a polite way to give a 'reality check' to stakeholders without being confrontational. Danish sports commentators use this constantly when a team is losing or in a rebuilding phase.
Add 'endnu' for extra flavor
Adding 'endnu' (yet) at the end makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't say 'langt'
Even though 'langt' is an adverb, here 'lang' is an adjective describing 'vej', so it must be 'lang'.
Bedeutung
There is still much to do.
Add 'endnu' for extra flavor
Adding 'endnu' (yet) at the end makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't say 'langt'
Even though 'langt' is an adverb, here 'lang' is an adjective describing 'vej', so it must be 'lang'.
Use it to be humble
If someone praises your work, saying 'Tak, men der er en lang vej at gå' is a very Danish way to accept a compliment.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Vi er lige begyndt på projektet, så der er en lang ___ at gå.
'Vej' is the correct word for this idiom. 'Gade' means street, 'sti' means path, and 'bro' means bridge.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly in a figurative sense?
Choose the correct sentence:
This sentence uses the idiom to describe the effort needed to reach a goal (learning Danish).
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: Er du færdig med din bog? B: Nej, jeg har kun skrevet ti sider, så ___.
Since only ten pages are written, the idiom correctly expresses that much work remains.
Match the situation to the meaning of the phrase.
Situation: A politician says 'Der er en lang vej at gå' regarding climate change.
In a political context, the phrase signals that the process is ongoing and far from finished.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenVi er lige begyndt på projektet, så der er en lang ___ at gå.
'Vej' is the correct word for this idiom. 'Gade' means street, 'sti' means path, and 'bro' means bridge.
Choose the correct sentence:
This sentence uses the idiom to describe the effort needed to reach a goal (learning Danish).
A: Er du færdig med din bog? B: Nej, jeg har kun skrevet ti sider, så ___.
Since only ten pages are written, the idiom correctly expresses that much work remains.
Situation: A politician says 'Der er en lang vej at gå' regarding climate change.
In a political context, the phrase signals that the process is ongoing and far from finished.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, literally it means a long walk, but people will usually assume you mean it figuratively unless you are clearly outdoors.
It is always 'en lang vej' because 'vej' is a common gender (en-ord).
Not necessarily. It's realistic. It acknowledges that a goal is hard, but it doesn't mean you won't get there.
Literally yes (to drive), but as an idiom for 'much work to do', we only use 'at gå'.
'Vej' is a physical road/path. 'Måde' is a 'way' as in a 'method'. This idiom only uses 'vej'.
You say 'Vi har en lang vej at gå.'
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a newspaper.
Yes, if a couple is working on their problems, they might say 'Der er en lang vej at gå'.
In Danish, the infinitive marker 'at' is required after nouns like 'vej' in this construction.
Yes, it's a very common synonym used in spoken Danish.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Lang vej igen
synonymLong way left
At være på rette vej
similarTo be on the right track
At gå sin vej
contrastTo leave / walk away
Vejen til succes
builds onThe road to success
