Signification
Switching on the electricity.
Contexte culturel
The 'Lysfest' (Light Festival) in Copenhagen features light installations across the city to combat the winter gloom. Lighting candles in windows on May 4th is a national act of remembrance for the end of WWII. Danes prefer multiple small lamps ('hyggelys') rather than one big ceiling light. You might 'tænde' five different lamps in one room. The 'Advent' wreath involves lighting one new candle each Sunday in December.
The 'For' Rule
If it has a knob or a complex interface (like a stove or radio), use 'tænde for'. If it's just a light, 'tænde' is enough.
Candle vs Light
Remember that 'et lys' is a candle. If you say 'Jeg tænder et lys', people will look for a match, not a switch!
Signification
Switching on the electricity.
The 'For' Rule
If it has a knob or a complex interface (like a stove or radio), use 'tænde for'. If it's just a light, 'tænde' is enough.
Candle vs Light
Remember that 'et lys' is a candle. If you say 'Jeg tænder et lys', people will look for a match, not a switch!
Don't 'Open' the Light
Never say 'åbne lyset'. It's a classic mistake for speakers of Romance languages.
Hygge-time
In Denmark, 'at tænde lyset' is often the first thing people do to make a guest feel welcome.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'at tænde'.
I går aftes ______ jeg lyset klokken otte.
The sentence refers to 'I går aftes' (yesterday evening), so we need the past tense.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you ask someone to turn on the light?
'Tænde' is the correct verb for lights in Danish.
Match the Danish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
Notice the difference between the definite 'lyset' and indefinite 'et lys'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Her er meget mørkt. B: ______
If it is dark (mørkt), the logical action is to turn on the light.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Tænde vs Slukke
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesI går aftes ______ jeg lyset klokken otte.
The sentence refers to 'I går aftes' (yesterday evening), so we need the past tense.
How do you ask someone to turn on the light?
'Tænde' is the correct verb for lights in Danish.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Notice the difference between the definite 'lyset' and indefinite 'et lys'.
A: Her er meget mørkt. B: ______
If it is dark (mørkt), the logical action is to turn on the light.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is grammatically correct and used, but 'tænde lyset' is slightly more common in daily speech.
It can mean 'light' (the phenomenon) or 'a candle'. Context tells you which one.
The opposite is 'slukke' (to turn off/extinguish).
You say 'tænde lommelygten'.
Yes, you can say 'tænde computeren'.
In Danish, 'nd' is almost always pronounced as a long 'n' sound.
Slang-wise, 'at tænde på nogen' means to be attracted to someone (to be turned on).
It means 'on' or 'lit'. E.g., 'Lyset er tændt'.
'Lyset' is singular (the light), 'lysene' is plural (the lights).
At stryge en tændstik (to strike a match) or 'at tænde en tændstik'.
Expressions liées
at slukke lyset
contrastTo turn off the light
at tænde for kontakten
specialized formTo flip the switch
at tænde op i pejsen
similarTo light the fireplace
at få en lys idé
figurativeTo get a bright idea
