Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'det er synd' to show you care when something slightly bad happens to someone else.
- Means: 'It's a pity' or 'That's too bad' in English.
- Used in: Spilled drinks, missed buses, or hearing about a friend's cold.
- Don't confuse: Adding 'en' (det er en synd) makes it a religious sin.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Expressing empathy for an unfortunate event.
Contexte culturel
Danes use 'det er synd' as a social lubricant to show they are listening and care, without needing to offer a solution. The concept of 'stakkels' (poor thing) is often paired with 'synd' in Norway and Sweden too, but the prepositions vary. English speakers often say 'I'm sorry' for things they didn't do. Danes only say 'undskyld' if they are at fault; otherwise, they use 'synd'. On social media, 'det er synd' is the equivalent of the 'sad face' emoji reaction.
The 'For' Rule
Always use 'for' if you are mentioning a person. 'Det er synd for Peter.'
Don't be too dramatic
Avoid using this for very serious life events; it can sound trivializing.
The 'For' Rule
Always use 'for' if you are mentioning a person. 'Det er synd for Peter.'
Don't be too dramatic
Avoid using this for very serious life events; it can sound trivializing.
Add 'Hvor'
Saying 'Hvor er det synd' sounds much more natural and native than just 'Det er synd.'
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to express pity for a friend.
Det er synd ______ dig, at du mistede din pung.
In Danish, we always use 'for' after 'synd' when referring to a person.
Which sentence is the most natural response to: 'Jeg kan ikke komme til din fødselsdag'?
Response:
'Det er synd' is the standard way to express regret about a situation.
Match the situation to the correct phrase.
Situation: Someone is throwing away a perfectly good cake.
When something is being wasted, we use 'det er synd at [verb]'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Min cykel er punkteret. B: Ej, ______ ______ ______ synd!
'Hvor er det synd' is a very common emphatic way to react to bad news.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
When to use 'Det er synd'
Minor Accidents
- • Spilled drink
- • Lost keys
- • Missed bus
Health
- • Cold/Flu
- • Headache
- • Tiredness
Disappointment
- • Cancelled plans
- • Bad weather
- • Lost game
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesDet er synd ______ dig, at du mistede din pung.
In Danish, we always use 'for' after 'synd' when referring to a person.
Response:
'Det er synd' is the standard way to express regret about a situation.
Situation: Someone is throwing away a perfectly good cake.
When something is being wasted, we use 'det er synd at [verb]'.
A: Min cykel er punkteret. B: Ej, ______ ______ ______ synd!
'Hvor er det synd' is a very common emphatic way to react to bad news.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes, you can say 'Det er synd for mig,' but it can sound a bit like you are fishing for sympathy or being a bit self-pitying.
'Synd' is more common for empathy. 'Skam' (shame) is often used when something good is wasted, like 'Det er en skam at smide mad ud.'
Yes, if a colleague tells you they are sick or had a minor setback, 'Det er synd at høre' is perfectly fine.
Shape your lips like you are going to whistle, but try to say 'eee'.
Yes! 'Syndebuk' means 'scapegoat' (literally 'sin-goat').
Expressions liées
det er ærgerligt
similarit's annoying/unfortunate
det er en skam
synonymit's a shame
stakkels dig
builds onpoor you
hvor nederen
similarhow a downer
jeg har ondt af
specialized formI feel sorry for
Où l'utiliser
Spilled Coffee
A: Åh nej, jeg spildte kaffe på min hvide skjorte!
B: Ej, hvor er det synd! Skal du låne en klud?
Sick Friend
A: Jeg kan ikke komme i aften, jeg har feber.
B: Det er synd for dig. God bedring!
Bad Weather
A: Det regner hele ugen, så vi kan ikke tage på stranden.
B: Det er synd, vi havde ellers glædet os.
Work Rejection
A: Jeg fik ikke jobbet, jeg søgte.
B: Det er virkelig synd, du var ellers så kvalificeret.
Food Waste
A: Der er så meget pizza tilbage, men vi skal rejse i morgen.
B: Det er synd at smide det ud. Skal vi give det til naboen?
Dating App
A: Min hund er syg, så jeg kan ikke mødes i dag.
B: Det er synd for hunden! Vi finder en anden dag.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Synd' as 'Sin'. It's a 'sin' that something bad happened to you!
Association visuelle
Imagine a small, sad rain cloud 🌧️ hovering over a friend's head, and you are handing them a warm cup of coffee ☕ to make it better.
Rhyme
Det er synd, at du er tynd! (It's a pity that you are thin - a silly rhyme to remember the sound).
Story
You see a child drop their ice cream on the sidewalk. You don't want to cry, but you want to show you care. You walk up and say 'Det er synd.' The child feels understood, and the world feels a bit better.
In Other Languages
Similar to 'C'est dommage' in French or 'Schade' in German. It bridges the gap between 'I'm sorry' and 'That's too bad.'
Word Web
Défi
Next time you see a minor inconvenience (a late bus, a spilled drink), say 'Det er synd' out loud or in your head.
Review this phrase whenever you feel a small amount of pity for someone else.
Prononciation
The 't' is silent.
Short, open vowel.
The 'y' is a rounded 'i' sound, and there is a 'stød' (glottal stop) at the end.
Spectre de formalité
Det er beklageligt, at De ikke kunne deltage. (Absence from an event)
Det er synd, at du ikke kunne komme. (Absence from an event)
Ej, hvor synd du ikke var der! (Absence from an event)
Nederen du missede det. (Absence from an event)
From Old Norse 'synd', originally meaning a 'sin' or 'misdeed' in a religious sense.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'synd' is related to the English word 'sin', but its social usage in Danish is much broader.
Notes culturelles
Danes use 'det er synd' as a social lubricant to show they are listening and care, without needing to offer a solution.
“A: Jeg har travlt. B: Det er synd for dig.”
The concept of 'stakkels' (poor thing) is often paired with 'synd' in Norway and Sweden too, but the prepositions vary.
“Stakkels dig, det er virkelig synd.”
English speakers often say 'I'm sorry' for things they didn't do. Danes only say 'undskyld' if they are at fault; otherwise, they use 'synd'.
“English: 'I'm sorry it's raining.' Danish: 'Det er synd, det regner.'”
On social media, 'det er synd' is the equivalent of the 'sad face' emoji reaction.
“Comment on a post: 'Hvor er det synd! ❤️'”
Amorces de conversation
Hvad synes du er mest synd: at miste sin telefon eller at miste sin pung?
Er det synd for folk, der altid kommer for sent?
Fortæl om en gang, hvor det var virkelig synd for dig.
Erreurs courantes
Det er en synd for dig.
Det er synd for dig.
L1 Interference
Jeg er synd.
Det er synd for mig.
L1 Interference
Det er synd om dig.
Det er synd for dig.
L1 Interference
Det er synd, at du døde.
Jeg er ked af dit tab.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Es una lástima
Spanish uses 'pena' (pain/shame) more frequently than 'lástima' in casual talk.
C'est dommage
French focuses on 'damage/loss' while Danish focuses on 'sin/pity'.
Schade
German often uses 'Schade' as a single-word exclamation.
残念ですね (Zannen desu ne)
Japanese is more about shared regret than direct pity for the other person.
يا للأسف (Ya lil-asaf)
Arabic can sound more poetic or formal depending on the dialect.
太可惜了 (Tài kěxī le)
Chinese 'kěxī' strongly emphasizes the 'waste' aspect.
안타깝네요 (Antakkapneyo)
Korean has many levels of formality that change the ending of the word.
É uma pena
In Brazil, 'Que dó' is also very common for expressing pity.
Spotted in the Real World
“Det er synd for ham, men vi har brug for de stemmer.”
Discussing a political ally who has to be sacrificed for a deal.
“Nej, hvor er det synd for den stakkels mand.”
Maude reacting to news about a local citizen's misfortune.
Facile à confondre
The addition of 'en' changes the meaning to a literal religious sin.
Remember: No 'en' for pity!
Learners use 'ærgerligt' when they should show empathy, or 'synd' when they are just annoyed.
Use 'synd' for people's feelings, 'ærgerligt' for annoying situations.
Questions fréquentes (5)
Yes, you can say 'Det er synd for mig,' but it can sound a bit like you are fishing for sympathy or being a bit self-pitying.
usage contexts'Synd' is more common for empathy. 'Skam' (shame) is often used when something good is wasted, like 'Det er en skam at smide mad ud.'
comparisonsYes, if a colleague tells you they are sick or had a minor setback, 'Det er synd at høre' is perfectly fine.
usage contextsShape your lips like you are going to whistle, but try to say 'eee'.
pronunciationYes! 'Syndebuk' means 'scapegoat' (literally 'sin-goat').
basic understanding
