Meaning
to be on a trip
Cultural Background
Danes often use 'at være på rejse' as a way to signal personal growth. It is culturally expected to travel extensively in your youth. There is a shared Nordic tradition of 'friluftsliv' (open-air life), but 'at være på rejse' usually implies going beyond the Nordic wilderness to foreign lands. In Danish work culture, being 'på rejse' is a valid reason for not being reachable, as work-life balance is highly valued, even on business trips. For residents of these parts of the Danish Realm, 'at være på rejse' often specifically means traveling to 'the mainland' (Denmark) for supplies or education.
The 'På' Rule
Always use 'på' with 'rejse'. If you use 'i', Danes will still understand you, but it will immediately mark you as a learner.
Don't over-pluralize
Keep 'rejse' singular when describing your current state, even if you are visiting 10 countries.
Meaning
to be on a trip
The 'På' Rule
Always use 'på' with 'rejse'. If you use 'i', Danes will still understand you, but it will immediately mark you as a learner.
Don't over-pluralize
Keep 'rejse' singular when describing your current state, even if you are visiting 10 countries.
Add 'ude'
Say 'Jeg er ude at rejse' to sound more like a native speaker in casual conversation.
H.C. Andersen
Mention 'At rejse er at leve' in a conversation about travel to impress Danes with your cultural knowledge.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition.
Min søster er ___ rejse i USA.
In Danish, the fixed expression is 'på rejse'.
Which sentence is most natural for a business email?
How do you say someone is away on a trip?
'På rejse' is the standard neutral/formal way to describe being away.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hvorfor svarer han ikke? B: Det er fordi han ___.
The state of being away explains the lack of response.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are on a 6-month backpacking trip through Asia.
This fits long-term, significant travel.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Rejse vs. Tur
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMin søster er ___ rejse i USA.
In Danish, the fixed expression is 'på rejse'.
How do you say someone is away on a trip?
'På rejse' is the standard neutral/formal way to describe being away.
A: Hvorfor svarer han ikke? B: Det er fordi han ___.
The state of being away explains the lack of response.
You are on a 6-month backpacking trip through Asia.
This fits long-term, significant travel.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, that is grammatically incorrect. You must use 'på'.
'At rejse' is the verb (the action of traveling), while 'at være på rejse' is the state of being away on a trip.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, family, or in a business setting.
Yes, but 'en tur' is more common for very short trips. 'På rejse' usually implies something more significant.
You can say 'Jeg er på forretningsrejse' or 'Jeg er på rejse med arbejdet'.
Not necessarily. It means you are in the period of time where you are away from home.
It's a more formal synonym, often used in professional out-of-office messages.
Yes, but it's more common to say 'en rejse gennem livet'.
Yes, it's one of the most common nouns in Danish related to lifestyle.
It's a soft, gargling sound in the back of the throat, typical of Danish.
Yes, adding 'en' makes it slightly more specific or poetic.
The opposite would be 'at være hjemme' (to be home).
Related Phrases
at rejse ud
similarto travel abroad
at være bortrejst
synonymto be away
en dannelsesrejse
specialized formeducational journey
at være på farten
similarto be on the go
at drage afsted
builds onto set off
