Bedeutung
Having no energy left.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Danes often use self-deprecating humor. Saying 'Jeg er helt flad' is a way to be honest about one's state without being too serious or 'heavy'. The term is almost a badge of honor at the end of the month before the SU (student grant) arrives. It creates a sense of community among students. In flat hierarchies like in Denmark, it is common to tell your boss you are 'flad' if the workload has been extreme, as a way to signal a need for prioritization. Because almost everyone in Denmark bikes, the literal meaning (flat tire) is encountered daily, making the metaphor very present in the Danish mind.
Use it for both!
Don't be afraid to use it for both money and energy. It's one of the most versatile slang words in Danish.
Watch the plural
If you are talking about yourself and a friend, you MUST say 'Vi er flade'. Forgetting the 'e' sounds very non-native.
Bedeutung
Having no energy left.
Use it for both!
Don't be afraid to use it for both money and energy. It's one of the most versatile slang words in Danish.
Watch the plural
If you are talking about yourself and a friend, you MUST say 'Vi er flade'. Forgetting the 'e' sounds very non-native.
The 'Helt' factor
Danes love the word 'helt'. Using it makes you sound much more natural than just saying 'Jeg er flad'.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to say you are exhausted.
Jeg har løbet et maraton, så nu er jeg helt ______.
'Flad' is the correct slang for being exhausted after physical effort.
Match the meaning of 'flad' to the situation.
Situation: 'Jeg kan ikke købe den her trøje, jeg er helt flad.'
In the context of buying clothes, 'flad' means having no money.
Which sentence is grammatically correct for a group of people?
Vi har arbejdet hele natten, så...
Adjectives must end in '-e' when the subject (vi) is plural.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: Vil du med i biografen? B: Jeg vil gerne, men min konto er tom, så jeg er ______.
Since the account is empty, 'helt flad' is the most natural slang response.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJeg har løbet et maraton, så nu er jeg helt ______.
'Flad' is the correct slang for being exhausted after physical effort.
Situation: 'Jeg kan ikke købe den her trøje, jeg er helt flad.'
In the context of buying clothes, 'flad' means having no money.
Vi har arbejdet hele natten, så...
Adjectives must end in '-e' when the subject (vi) is plural.
A: Vil du med i biografen? B: Jeg vil gerne, men min konto er tom, så jeg er ______.
Since the account is empty, 'helt flad' is the most natural slang response.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenOnly if you have a very casual relationship. Otherwise, stick to 'Jeg er træt'.
No, it can also be literal (a flat tire) or describe a boring party ('Festen var lidt flad').
No, it's not rude. It's just very informal and honest.
'Smadret' is much stronger. 'Flad' is like a battery at 5%, 'smadret' is like the battery has exploded.
Yes! That specifically means your wallet is empty.
It's a soft Danish 'd'. Place your tongue behind your lower teeth and make a sound like the 'th' in 'this'.
It's used equally for both, but the context usually makes it very clear which one you mean.
It's rare. Usually, we use 'kedelig' (boring) for that.
Not really. You would just use formal words like 'udmattet' or 'insolvent'.
Yes, it is very common among all age groups in Denmark.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Jeg er færdig
synonymI am finished/done.
Jeg er blanket af
specialized formI am completely broke.
Jeg er smadret
similarI am smashed/exhausted.
At have flade lommer
similarTo have flat pockets.
