Meaning
Securing the door.
Cultural Background
Danes often value trust over security. In rural areas, you might see 'vejboder' (roadside stalls) with goods and a money box, and house doors might remain unlocked during the day. Most Danish apartments use 'smæklåse'. This means if the door closes behind you, it is automatically locked. This leads to many people being 'låst ude'. The concept of 'hygge' is often associated with being safe and 'låst inde' (locked inside) during a cold winter night with candles lit. When leaving a summer house at the end of the season, there is a ritual of 'at låse af', which involves checking all windows and doors.
The Smæklås Trap
Many Danish apartments have doors that lock automatically. Always check you have your keys before you 'lukker' the door, or you will have to 'låse' it from the outside with an expensive locksmith!
Låse vs. Låse af
Use 'låse af' when you are the last person leaving a shop or an office. It sounds much more native than just 'låse døren'.
Meaning
Securing the door.
The Smæklås Trap
Many Danish apartments have doors that lock automatically. Always check you have your keys before you 'lukker' the door, or you will have to 'låse' it from the outside with an expensive locksmith!
Låse vs. Låse af
Use 'låse af' when you are the last person leaving a shop or an office. It sounds much more native than just 'låse døren'.
Trust but Verify
Even if Danes say they trust everyone, they still 'låser døren' in the city. Don't take the 'trust society' too literally in Copenhagen!
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'at låse'.
Jeg ______ døren i morges, før jeg tog på arbejde.
The sentence refers to 'i morges' (this morning), so the past tense 'låste' is required.
Which sentence is correct?
You want to tell someone to remember to lock the door.
'Låse' is the infinitive needed after 'at', and it specifically means to lock.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Er du klar? B: Ja, jeg skal bare lige ______ ______.
In the context of being ready to leave, 'låse døren' is the most logical action.
Match the Danish phrase to the situation.
You realized you left your keys inside and the door is locked.
'At låse sig ude' is the specific idiom for being locked out.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to Lock the Door
Home
- • Leaving for work
- • Going to bed
- • Vacation
Public
- • Office
- • Bathroom
- • Gym locker
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeg ______ døren i morges, før jeg tog på arbejde.
The sentence refers to 'i morges' (this morning), so the past tense 'låste' is required.
You want to tell someone to remember to lock the door.
'Låse' is the infinitive needed after 'at', and it specifically means to lock.
A: Er du klar? B: Ja, jeg skal bare lige ______ ______.
In the context of being ready to leave, 'låse døren' is the most logical action.
You realized you left your keys inside and the door is locked.
'At låse sig ude' is the specific idiom for being locked out.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, you almost always need the definite article 'døren' because you are locking a specific door.
A 'låsesmed' is a locksmith. You'll need one if you 'låser dig ude'.
No, it follows the standard Group 2 pattern: låse, låser, låste, låst.
You say 'Døren er låst'.
Yes, almost everyone in Denmark locks their door before going to sleep for safety.
'Låse' is for a single door; 'låse af' implies securing a whole building or area.
Yes, 'at låse telefonen' is the correct way to say lock your phone screen.
Not really, but 'at smække' is often used when a door locks automatically.
Jeg glemte at låse.
It means to unlock.
Related Phrases
at låse op
contrastTo unlock
at låse af
specialized formTo lock up a whole building
at smække døren
similarTo slam the door
at låse sig ude
builds onTo lock oneself out
en låst dør
similarA locked door
