bestille in 30 Seconds
- To order or book something.
- Used for food, services, appointments, and items.
- Past tense: bestilte, past participle: bestilt.
- Very common in everyday Danish.
- Verb
- bestille
- Meaning
- To request or order goods or services. This is a very common and versatile verb used in many everyday situations, from booking a table at a restaurant to ordering items online or arranging an appointment.
Jeg vil gerne bestille et bord til to personer klokken 19.
- Usage
- You use 'bestille' when you want to arrange something in advance or acquire something that isn't immediately available. This can involve paying for something, reserving a spot, or getting a service performed. It's a fundamental verb for interacting in commercial and service-oriented environments.
Kan jeg bestille en pizza?
- Examples in Context
- In a restaurant: 'Jeg vil gerne bestille en kop kaffe.' (I would like to order a cup of coffee.)
Online shopping: 'Jeg har lige bestilt en ny bog online.' (I have just ordered a new book online.)
Appointments: 'Du skal ringe og bestille tid hos lægen.' (You need to call and book an appointment with the doctor.)
Travel: 'Vi skal bestille flybilletter til sommerferien.' (We need to book flight tickets for the summer holiday.)
Services: 'Kan du bestille en taxa for mig?' (Can you order a taxi for me?)
Har du bestilt bord?
- Basic Structure
- The most common structure is: Subject + bestille + object (what is being ordered/requested) + (optional: time/place/details).
Jeg vil bestille en sandwich.
- Adding Details
- You can specify what you want to order, book, or request. This often involves a direct object. For example, 'bestille mad' (order food), 'bestille tid' (book time/appointment), 'bestille billetter' (order tickets).
Vi skal bestille bord på restauranten.
- Using with Prepositions
- Sometimes, you might use prepositions to clarify the context, like 'bestille noget til mig' (order something for me) or 'bestille noget fra hjemmesiden' (order something from the website).
Jeg vil gerne bestille en kage til fødselsdagen.
- Past Tense and Participle
- Remember the past tense 'bestilte' and the past participle 'bestilt'. You'll use these when talking about things you have already ordered or booked.
Vi har allerede bestilt billetter.
Hun bestilte en kop te.
- Restaurants and Cafes
- This is perhaps the most common place you'll hear 'bestille'. When you sit down at a restaurant, the waiter will ask: 'Hvad vil De gerne bestille?' (What would you like to order?). You'll also use it yourself: 'Jeg vil gerne bestille en ret fra menuen.' (I would like to order a dish from the menu.)
Kan jeg bestille en kaffe latte?
- Shops and Online Stores
- When shopping, especially for items that might need to be shipped or prepared, 'bestille' is used. For example, 'Jeg har bestilt nye sko online.' (I have ordered new shoes online.) Or in a physical store: 'Kan I bestille denne vare hjem til mig?' (Can you order this item for me?).
Jeg vil gerne bestille en ekstra pude.
- Booking Services
- This includes booking appointments with doctors, dentists, hairdressers, or reserving services like taxis or cleaning. 'Du skal bestille tid hos frisøren.' (You need to book an appointment with the hairdresser.) 'Jeg har bestilt en taxa til i morgen tidlig.' (I have ordered a taxi for tomorrow morning.)
Vi skal bestille en flyrejse.
- Travel Industry
- When booking hotels, flights, or train tickets, 'bestille' is the verb of choice. 'Vi har bestilt et hotelværelse for to nætter.' (We have booked a hotel room for two nights.)
Har du bestilt bord til os?
- Confusing with 'bestille' and 'bestille noget'
- Learners might sometimes forget to specify what they are ordering. While 'Jeg vil bestille' (I want to order) is understandable, it's more natural to say what you want to order. For example, instead of just 'Jeg vil bestille', say 'Jeg vil bestille en kaffe.' (I want to order a coffee.)
Incorrect: Jeg vil bestille.
Correct: Jeg vil bestille en sandwich.
- Incorrect Past Tense/Participle
- Mixing up the past tense 'bestilte' and the past participle 'bestilt' is common. 'Bestilte' is used for simple past actions (e.g., 'I ordered yesterday'), while 'bestilt' is used with auxiliary verbs like 'har' (have) or 'er' (is) to form perfect tenses (e.g., 'I have ordered').
Incorrect: Jeg har bestilte en pizza.
Correct: Jeg har bestilt en pizza.
- Overuse of 'have' with 'bestille'
- Sometimes, learners might incorrectly use 'have' when it's not needed. For example, 'Jeg vil have bestille en kaffe' is wrong. The correct structure is 'Jeg vil bestille en kaffe.' The auxiliary 'have' is only used for perfect tenses, not with modal verbs like 'vil' (will).
Incorrect: Jeg vil have bestille en øl.
Correct: Jeg vil bestille en øl.
Incorrect: Hun har bestilte en taxa.
Correct: Hun har bestilt en taxa.
- 'Bestille' vs. 'Ordrere'
- 'Ordrere' is a direct cognate of 'order' and is also used, particularly in more formal or commercial contexts, or when referring to a formal order in a business sense. However, 'bestille' is far more common in everyday spoken Danish for general ordering of food, services, or items. Think of 'bestille' as the go-to for most situations, while 'ordrere' might be seen in written instructions or specific business transactions.
Jeg vil bestille en kaffe. (Common, everyday)
Firmaet vil ordrere nye maskiner. (More formal/business)
- 'Bestille' vs. 'Reservere'
- 'Reservere' specifically means 'to reserve' and is used when you are setting something aside for yourself or someone else, usually without immediate payment or commitment to purchase. For example, 'Jeg vil reservere et bord' (I want to reserve a table) is very similar to 'Jeg vil bestille et bord', but 'reservere' emphasizes holding it for you. 'Bestille' can encompass reservation but also implies a more definitive order.
Jeg vil reservere en plads på kurset. (Holding a spot)
Jeg vil bestille en billet til koncerten. (More definitive purchase)
- 'Bestille' vs. 'Anmode'
- 'Anmode' means 'to request' or 'to apply for'. It's a more formal verb and is used when you are asking for something that might not be granted, or when making a formal request. 'Bestille' is for when you are actively ordering something with the expectation of receiving it. For instance, you would 'anmode om information' (request information) but 'bestille mad' (order food).
Jeg vil anmode om orlov. (Formal request)
Jeg vil bestille en tid til mit kørekort. (Booking an appointment)
To bestille a table vs. To reservere a table: Similar, but 'reservere' emphasizes holding it.
Fun Fact
The word 'bestille' has evolved significantly from its original meaning of 'to manage' or 'to arrange'. In modern Danish, its primary use is for ordering goods and services, but the older sense of 'managing' or 'being busy with something' can still be found in phrases like 'at bestille noget' (to accomplish something).
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the first 'e' too strongly.
- Not stressing the second syllable sufficiently.
- Making the final 'e' sound too distinct or like a full 'ee'.
Examples by Level
Jeg vil bestille en kop kaffe.
I want to order a cup of coffee.
Simple present tense with modal verb 'vil' (will/want to).
Kan jeg bestille et bord?
Can I book a table?
Question using 'Kan jeg' (Can I) followed by the infinitive verb.
Jeg bestilte mad i går.
I ordered food yesterday.
Past tense 'bestilte'.
Vi skal bestille billetter.
We need to order tickets.
Using 'skal' (shall/must/need to) with the infinitive.
Har du bestilt pizza?
Have you ordered pizza?
Present perfect tense using 'har' (have) and the past participle 'bestilt'.
Kan du bestille en taxa?
Can you order a taxi?
Imperative-like request using 'Kan du' (Can you).
Jeg vil gerne bestille en sandwich.
I would like to order a sandwich.
Polite request using 'vil gerne' (would like to).
De bestilte et hotelværelse.
They booked a hotel room.
Past tense 'bestilte'.
Jeg vil gerne bestille et bord til to personer.
I would like to book a table for two people.
Adding a direct object and quantity.
Har du allerede bestilt flybilletterne?
Have you already ordered the flight tickets?
Using 'allerede' (already) with the present perfect.
Vi skal bestille bord på den nye restaurant.
We need to book a table at the new restaurant.
Using a prepositional phrase to specify the location.
Kan du bestille en taxa til klokken 18?
Can you order a taxi for 6 PM?
Specifying a time for the service.
Jeg har bestilt en bog fra en online butik.
I have ordered a book from an online store.
Using 'fra' (from) to indicate the source.
De bestilte en stor pizza med ekstra ost.
They ordered a large pizza with extra cheese.
Describing the ordered item with adjectives and prepositional phrases.
Hun vil bestille tid hos frisøren i næste uge.
She wants to book an appointment with the hairdresser next week.
Specifying the service and the timeframe.
Vi bestilte frokost til levering.
We ordered lunch for delivery.
Using 'til levering' (for delivery).
Jeg vil gerne bestille et bord på restauranten 'Den Gyldne Gås'.
I would like to book a table at the restaurant 'The Golden Goose'.
Specifying a named establishment.
Har du husket at bestille billetter til koncerten?
Have you remembered to book tickets for the concert?
Using 'husket at' (remembered to) with the infinitive.
Vi må hellere bestille en taxa, da det regner.
We had better order a taxi, as it is raining.
Using 'må hellere' (had better) to express necessity.
Jeg har bestilt et bord til fire personer klokken 20.
I have booked a table for four people at 8 PM.
Precise details of the booking.
Han forsøger at bestille en tid til et pas.
He is trying to book an appointment for a passport.
Using 'forsøger at' (trying to) with the infinitive.
De har bestilt et større parti varer fra Kina.
They have ordered a larger batch of goods from China.
Referring to a large quantity and origin.
Man kan bestille mad via deres app.
One can order food via their app.
Using 'man' (one/you) for general statements.
Vi bestilte en limousine til brylluppet.
We ordered a limousine for the wedding.
Ordering for a specific event.
Jeg vil gerne bestille et mødelokale til i morgen formiddag.
I would like to book a meeting room for tomorrow morning.
Booking a specific type of room for a specific time.
Har du undersøgt, om det er muligt at bestille et bord uden forudgående reservation?
Have you investigated whether it is possible to book a table without prior reservation?
Complex sentence structure with a subordinate clause and 'uden forudgående reservation'.
Vi må se, om vi kan bestille en guide til vores rundvisning.
We must see if we can book a guide for our tour.
Using 'se, om' (see if) and 'rundvisning' (guided tour).
Jeg har bestilt en tid til en konsultation hos advokaten.
I have booked an appointment for a consultation with the lawyer.
Booking a specific type of appointment.
De forsøger at bestille en særlig udgave af bogen.
They are trying to order a special edition of the book.
Ordering a specific edition.
Det er nødvendigt at bestille tid for at få et nyt kørekort.
It is necessary to book an appointment to get a new driver's license.
Using 'nødvendigt at' (necessary to) and the purpose clause.
Man kan ofte bestille bord online nu om dage.
One can often book tables online nowadays.
General statement about modern convenience.
Vi bestilte en skræddersyet kjole til bruden.
We ordered a tailor-made dress for the bride.
Ordering a custom-made item.
Jeg ville høre, om det var muligt at bestille et privat middagsselskab i jeres restaurant.
I wanted to inquire if it would be possible to book a private dinner party in your restaurant.
Formal inquiry using 'ville høre, om' and 'privat middagsselskab'.
Har I undersøgt mulighederne for at bestille transport til alle deltagerne?
Have you investigated the possibilities for booking transport for all the participants?
Investigating options for group transport.
Vi må finde ud af, hvordan vi bedst kan bestille materialer til projektet.
We must figure out how we can best order materials for the project.
Strategizing the ordering process.
Jeg har bestilt tid til en grundig undersøgelse hos tandlægen.
I have booked an appointment for a thorough examination with the dentist.
Booking a specific type of detailed examination.
De forsøger at bestille en sjælden antikvitet til deres samling.
They are trying to order a rare antique for their collection.
Ordering a valuable and rare item.
Det er bydende nødvendigt at bestille tid til visse procedurer.
It is absolutely necessary to book an appointment for certain procedures.
Using 'bydende nødvendigt' (absolutely necessary) for emphasis.
Man kan ikke altid bestille det, man ønsker, uden videre.
One cannot always order what one wishes without further ado.
General statement about limitations and expectations.
Vi bestilte en skræddersyet løsning til vores IT-system.
We ordered a tailored solution for our IT system.
Ordering a customized technical solution.
Jeg har forhørt mig om muligheden for at bestille et eksklusivt arrangement for vores firmajubilæum.
I have inquired about the possibility of booking an exclusive event for our company anniversary.
Formal inquiry about booking an exclusive event.
Har I verificeret, at transporten kan bestilles til det pågældende tidspunkt?
Have you verified that the transport can be booked for the specified time?
Verifying the booking details for a specific time.
Vi skal strategisk vurdere, hvordan vi mest omkostningseffektivt kan bestille de nødvendige komponenter.
We need to strategically assess how we can most cost-effectively order the necessary components.
Strategic and cost-benefit analysis for ordering.
Jeg har bestilt tid til en dybdegående analyse af mine helbredsmæssige forhold.
I have booked an appointment for an in-depth analysis of my health conditions.
Booking an appointment for a comprehensive medical assessment.
De er parate til at bestille en sjælden kunstgenstand, der er blevet sat på auktion.
They are ready to order a rare artwork that has been put up for auction.
Readiness to acquire a rare item from an auction.
Det er essentielt at bestille tid til disse specialistundersøgelser for at sikre korrekt diagnose.
It is essential to book an appointment for these specialist examinations to ensure a correct diagnosis.
Emphasizing the critical importance of booking for specialist tests.
Man kan sjældent forvente at kunne bestille adgang til alle faciliteter uden forudgående aftale.
One can rarely expect to be able to order access to all facilities without prior arrangement.
General statement about access requiring prior arrangements.
Vi har bestilt en fuldt integreret softwareløsning til at optimere vores drift.
We have ordered a fully integrated software solution to optimize our operations.
Ordering a comprehensive software solution for operational improvement.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— Can I order?
Waiter: 'Er De klar til at bestille?' Customer: 'Ja, kan jeg <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestille</mark> nu?'
— I would like to order...
'Jeg vil gerne <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestille</mark> en kop kaffe og et stykke kage.'
— Have you ordered?
'Har du <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestilt</mark> bord til os i aften?'
— We need to order...
'Vi skal <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestille</mark> nye stole til kontoret.'
— Book an appointment!
'Du skal huske at <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestille tid</mark> hos frisøren.'
— Ordered and paid for
Når du har <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestilt</mark> og betalt, modtager du en bekræftelse.
— Please order...
'<mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>Bestil venligst</mark> en ekstra serviet.'
— Ordered for delivery
Maden er <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestilt</mark> til levering om en time.
— Order directly
Du kan <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestille</mark> direkte fra vores hjemmeside.
— Ordered well in advance
Vi har <mark class='bg-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-800 px-0.5 rounded'>bestilt</mark> hotellet i god tid.
Idioms & Expressions
— To achieve or accomplish something significant. This idiom is slightly less common than the literal meaning but implies a noteworthy action or result.
Han har virkelig bestilt noget med det projekt.
Informal— To request or arrange for a day off from work or studies. It's a specific way to 'order' your time.
Jeg skal bestille fri næste fredag.
General— Literally 'to order a bill', this phrase is used humorously or sarcastically to imply that someone's actions will lead to a negative consequence or a large bill.
Hvis du fortsætter med at spilde penge, kommer du til at bestille en regning.
Informal/Humorous— A more formal way of saying 'to order a meal'.
Vi skal bestille et måltid i restauranten.
Neutral/Slightly Formal— To order a portion of something, typically food.
Jeg vil gerne bestille en portion frikadeller.
General— To order a cake, usually for a special occasion.
Vi skal bestille en kage til fødselsdagen.
General— To arrange or schedule a meeting.
Jeg vil gerne bestille et møde med dig.
General— To subscribe to a service or publication.
Jeg vil gerne bestille et abonnement på avisen.
General— To arrange for a call to be made, or to request a callback.
Kan du bestille et opkald fra kundeservice?
GeneralWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine you are at a busy Danish cafe. You want to order a coffee, and the barista is very efficient. You might say, 'I need to bestille this coffee now!' The sound 'bes-TIL-le' could remind you of 'best' and 'till', as in 'this is the best coffee until I get it'.
Visual Association
Picture a person standing at a counter with a menu in hand, pointing decisively at an item and saying, 'Jeg vil bestille dette!' (I want to order this!). The visual of ordering is key.
Word Origin
The verb 'bestille' in Danish originates from Old Norse 'bestilla', which itself is derived from the Old Germanic root related to 'best'. It carries the sense of 'to arrange', 'to manage', or 'to order'. The English word 'bestow' shares a similar root, indicating a sense of giving or arranging.
Original meaning: To arrange, to manage, to order.
Indo-European, Germanic, North GermanicSummary
The Danish verb 'bestille' is your go-to word for ordering food, booking appointments, reserving tables, or requesting services in most everyday situations. Its past tense is 'bestilte' and its past participle is 'bestilt'.
- To order or book something.
- Used for food, services, appointments, and items.
- Past tense: bestilte, past participle: bestilt.
- Very common in everyday Danish.
Related Content
Related Phrases
More business words
afdeling
B1A department or section within an organization or building.
anliggende
C1a matter or concern
anmode
C1to request formally or petition
anmodningsbrev
C1a letter of request
anmodningsform
C1a formal request style
anpart
C1a share in a business, often a private limited company
besparelse
B2a reduction in spending or cost
betaling
B1The act of paying money.
betjening
B2customer service or the operation of machines
branche
B2A particular sector or industry of business.
