hvordan

§ What 'hvordan' means and when to use it

The Danish word 'hvordan' is an adverb, and it's a very useful one for beginners. It means 'how' in English. You'll use it all the time to ask about methods, conditions, or ways of doing things. Think of it as your go-to word when you want to inquire about 'the manner in which' something is done or 'the state of' something.

Let's break it down with some common uses. One of the first phrases you'll likely learn in Danish is 'Hvordan går det?' This literally translates to 'How goes it?' but it's the standard way to ask 'How are you?' or 'How's it going?' It's a friendly and common greeting, and 'hvordan' is right at the heart of it.

DEFINITION

how

You'll also use 'hvordan' to ask about methods. For example, if you want to know how someone did something, you'd use 'hvordan'. Imagine you see someone easily fixing a bike. You might ask, 'Hvordan gjorde du det?' (How did you do that?). Or if you're trying to figure out directions, you could ask, 'Hvordan kommer jeg til stationen?' (How do I get to the station?). In both these cases, 'hvordan' is asking for the method or the way to achieve something.

Here's a hint for the example above: 'har' means 'have' and 'du' means 'you'. The whole phrase is asking about your state of being, hence 'How are you?' or 'How do you feel?'

Another important use of 'hvordan' is when you're asking about the quality or condition of something. If you've just tried a new dish, someone might ask you, 'Hvordan smager maden?' (How does the food taste?). Here, they're not asking for the recipe, but about the experience or the quality of the taste. Similarly, if you're talking about a movie, you could be asked, 'Hvordan var filmen?' (How was the movie?). This is asking for your opinion on its quality or your overall impression.

Consider these common question structures where 'hvordan' plays a key role:

• Questions about well-being: Hvordan har du det? (How are you feeling?)
• Questions about methods: Hvordan gør man det? (How does one do that?)
• Questions about opinion or quality: Hvordan var din ferie? (How was your holiday?)

Let's look at a few more examples to really cement your understanding. Pay attention to how 'hvordan' sets up the question to seek information about a process, a state, or a method.

Hint: 'laver' means 'make' or 'do', and 'kaffe' means 'coffee'. So, 'How do you make coffee?'

Hint: 'Jeg forstår ikke' means 'I don't understand', 'det' means 'it', and 'virker' means 'works'. So, 'I don't understand how it works.'

As you can see, 'hvordan' is versatile. It's an interrogative adverb, meaning it asks a question about how something is done or what its condition is. It's a foundational word for asking questions and getting information in Danish. Master 'hvordan' and you'll be able to unlock a whole new level of conversation and understanding.

§ What "hvordan" means

Word

hvordan

Part of Speech

adverb

CEFR Level

A1

Definition

how

Alright, let's get straight to it. "Hvordan" is a super common Danish word. It means "how." You'll hear it all the time, especially when people are asking questions. It's one of those basic words you need to know from day one.

§ Asking "How?" in Danish

The most direct use of "hvordan" is in simple questions. Just like in English, you put it at the beginning of the sentence to ask about the way something is done or the state of something.

• Hvordan går det?

  Hint

  How goes it? (Meaning: How are you?)

• Hvordan har du det?

  Hint

  How do you have it? (Meaning: How are you feeling?)

§ "Hvordan" in everyday conversations

You'll hear "hvordan" a lot in everyday chats. It's crucial for understanding how things work, how to do something, or how someone is feeling. Imagine you're at work, school, or just chatting with friends.

• Kan du vise mig, hvordan man bruger denne maskine?

  Hint

  Can you show me, how one uses this machine? (Meaning: Can you show me how to use this machine?)

  This is a common question at work or in a new environment.

• Jeg forstår ikke, hvordan han klarede det så hurtigt.

  Hint

  I understand not, how he managed it so quickly.

  You might hear this in school or when discussing a task with colleagues.

• Avisen skriver om, hvordan regeringen vil løse problemet.

  Hint

  The newspaper writes about, how the government will solve the problem.

  This is a classic use in news reports or political discussions.

• Vi diskuterer, hvordan vi bedst kan forbedre projektet.

  Hint

  We discuss, how we best can improve the project.

  You'll hear this in team meetings or collaborative work settings.

• Fortæl mig, hvordan din dag var.

  Hint

  Tell me, how your day was.

  A casual question you'd ask a friend or family member after school or work.

§ Common phrases with "hvordan"

Beyond direct questions, "hvordan" pops up in many useful phrases. These are good to memorize because they're so common.

• Hvordan synes du om det?

  Hint

  How think you about it? (Meaning: What do you think about it?)

  A common way to ask for an opinion.

• Det er utroligt, hvordan teknologien har udviklet sig.

  Hint

  It is incredible, how the technology has developed itself.

  You might hear this in a discussion about news or trends.

• Lærerne undrer sig over, hvordan eleverne kunne løse opgaven så hurtigt.

  Hint

  The teachers wonder about, how the students could solve the assignment so quickly.

  This sentence structure is common in school settings or when talking about academic performance.

The key takeaway here is that "hvordan" is a versatile word. Pay attention to how native speakers use it, and try to mimic their patterns. You'll quickly get the hang of it.