Significado
Being honest.
Contexto cultural
Danes value 'direkte tale' (direct speech). Being honest is seen as more important than being polite in many situations. The 'Jantelov' influences honesty; people are expected to be honest but not boastful about their integrity. In Danish business culture, 'at sige sandheden' about project delays is expected early to allow for collective problem-solving. The Danish legal oath is simple and focuses on the act of 'sige' (saying).
Use it as a filler
Start a sentence with 'For at sige sandheden...' to sound more like a native speaker when giving an opinion.
Don't over-use 'fortælle'
English speakers naturally want to say 'fortælle sandheden'. Resist this! 'Sige' is your best friend here.
Significado
Being honest.
Use it as a filler
Start a sentence with 'For at sige sandheden...' to sound more like a native speaker when giving an opinion.
Don't over-use 'fortælle'
English speakers naturally want to say 'fortælle sandheden'. Resist this! 'Sige' is your best friend here.
Directness is kindness
In Denmark, saying the truth—even if it's negative—is often seen as more helpful than being vague.
The definite suffix
Always keep the '-en' on 'sandheden'. It's almost never 'sandhed' alone in this phrase.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'at sige'.
I går ______ jeg sandheden til min chef.
The sentence starts with 'I går' (yesterday), so we need the past tense 'sagde'.
Which sentence is the most natural Danish?
How do you say 'Tell the truth!'?
'Sig' is the imperative form, and 'sandheden' must be in the definite form.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to admit you don't like a friend's cooking politely.
This is the standard way to introduce a personal, honest opinion.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Tror du på ham? B: Ja, jeg tror han ______ sandheden.
'Siger sandheden' is the most common collocation in this context.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Sige vs. Fortælle
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosI går ______ jeg sandheden til min chef.
The sentence starts with 'I går' (yesterday), so we need the past tense 'sagde'.
How do you say 'Tell the truth!'?
'Sig' is the imperative form, and 'sandheden' must be in the definite form.
You want to admit you don't like a friend's cooking politely.
This is the standard way to introduce a personal, honest opinion.
A: Tror du på ham? B: Ja, jeg tror han ______ sandheden.
'Siger sandheden' is the most common collocation in this context.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasYes, it is understood and occasionally used, but 'sige sandheden' is much more common and natural.
It is 'sandheden' (common gender). The '-en' is the definite article.
Yes, but it's more formal. You'll see it in books or hear it in very serious speeches.
You can say 'For at sige sandheden' or 'For at være ærlig'.
Usually no. Danes prefer clarity over politeness, though context still matters.
The past tense is 'sagde sandheden'.
Absolutely. It shows integrity, which is highly valued by Danish employers.
Younger people might say 'at være real' or 'at spytte sandheder'.
It means 'truth', but its roots are connected to 'being' and 'reality'.
It's a 'soft d'. Place your tongue behind your lower teeth and make a sound like the 'th' in 'mother'.
Both. You can say 'Jeg siger sandheden' or 'Jeg siger sandheden til dig'.
It's a 'white lie'—the opposite of 'at sige sandheden' for the sake of social harmony.
Frases relacionadas
At være ærlig
synonymTo be honest
At tale sandt
similarTo speak truthfully
At lægge kortene på bordet
idiomTo lay the cards on the table
En hvid løgn
contrastA white lie
Rent ud sagt
builds onPlainly spoken
