Danish and Swedish, same same but different
Ever since moving to Copenhagen, I’ve been mentally collecting a list of words that are the same in Swedish and Danish but actually have different meanings. One of them came up in conversation today at lunch, which reminded me that it’s time to take the list out of my head to make room for other things.
| Swedish | Swedish meaning | Danish meaning | Actual Danish equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mål[a|e] | Paint | Measure | Male |
| Grin[a|e] | Cry [1] | Laugh | Græde |
| Fr[u|o]kost | Breakfast | Lunch | Morgenmad |
| Spis | Stove | Eat | Komfur |
| Le | Smile | Laugh | Smile |
| Trist | Boring | Sad | Kedelig |
| Lag | Team | Layer | Hold |
| Kasse | Bag | Box | Taske |
| Task[e] | Sack (as in Scrotum) | Bag | No idea |
| Blomm[a|e] | Flower | Plum | Blomst |
| Mangl[a|e] | Mangle (as in pressing sheets) | Lack, miss | Rulle |
| Spring[a|e] | Run | Jump | Løbe |
| Rolig | Fun | Calm | Sjov |
| Kjol[e] | Skirt | Dress | Nederdel |
| Le | Smile | Laugh | Smile |
| K[o|u]nstig | Strange | Artificial | Mærkelig |
| K[o|u]nstig | Strange | Artificial | Mærkelig |
| Flink | Quick (about a person) | Nice (also about a person) | |
| Snor | Snot | String/Leash | Snot |
| Boll[a|e] | Bounce a ball | Shag | |
| Kn[ä|e]pp[a|e] | To button something | Fuck | Knappe (subtle pronunciation difference) |
[1] - All my relatives (from the south of Sweden) use the word “grina” in the Danish meaning, but it seems the general Swedish view is that it means “to cry”.
3 Responses to “Danish and Swedish, same same but different”
Daniel Says:
November 27th, 2007 at 17:50
Grina means to smile broadly (i.e. grin?). Nothing else. 
Kim Bach Says:
November 16th, 2008 at 13:57
Task[e] | Sack (as in Scrotum) | Bag | Danish equivalent: Pung
I think I’m right in saying that these words, linguistically, are known as “false friends” or “faux amis”.