Signification
Near a destination.
Contexte culturel
Danes value being on time. Saying 'Vi er tæt på' is a common courtesy when you are running 2 minutes late to a meeting. Because Denmark is small, 'tæt på' often refers to very short distances. A 10-minute walk is 'tæt på', but a 10-minute drive might be too. The word 'tæt' is related to the physical closeness required for 'hygge'—sitting close together in a small space with candles. In Danish flat hierarchies, a boss might ask 'Er vi tæt på?' to check progress without sounding too demanding.
The GPS Trick
If you see the destination on your screen, you are 'tæt på'.
Preposition Alert
Never say 'tæt til'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers!
Signification
Near a destination.
The GPS Trick
If you see the destination on your screen, you are 'tæt på'.
Preposition Alert
Never say 'tæt til'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers!
Near Misses
Use 'Det var tæt på!' as a standalone phrase when you almost drop your phone or trip.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing preposition.
Vi er tæt ___ stationen.
In Danish, the expression is always 'tæt på'.
Which sentence means 'We are almost finished'?
Vælg den rigtige sætning:
This uses the correct preposition 'på' and the correct infinitive structure 'at være'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hvor er I? B: ______ (We are close to the house).
Using the definite form 'huset' is natural when referring to a specific destination.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You almost missed your bus, but you caught it at the last second.
'Det var tæt på!' is the idiomatic way to say 'That was close!' after a near miss.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Tæt På vs. Langt Fra
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesVi er tæt ___ stationen.
In Danish, the expression is always 'tæt på'.
Vælg den rigtige sætning:
This uses the correct preposition 'på' and the correct infinitive structure 'at være'.
A: Hvor er I? B: ______ (We are close to the house).
Using the definite form 'huset' is natural when referring to a specific destination.
You almost missed your bus, but you caught it at the last second.
'Det var tæt på!' is the idiomatic way to say 'That was close!' after a near miss.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but 'Vi er tætte' (We are close) is better for emotional closeness. 'Vi er tæt på hinanden' means you are physically standing near each other.
'Tæt på' is for movement/goals. 'Tæt ved' is for static location (The house is close by).
Use 'Vi er tæt på at være færdige'.
Yes, literally it means dense or tight, but in this phrase, it means close.
Yes, 'Vi er tæt på jul' (We are close to Christmas).
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
'Langt fra' (Far from).
Yes, it means 'close to 100', but 'næsten 100' is more common.
No, it is a strong vowel sound like 'o' in 'lord'.
It's just a fixed prepositional rule in Danish. Prepositions are often arbitrary!
Expressions liées
næsten fremme
similaralmost arrived
lige om hjørnet
idiomjust around the corner
i nærheden af
synonymin the vicinity of
langt fra
contrastfar from
tæt ved
similarclose by
