English Reference
adjective · noun

danish

adj. · n.
US /ˈdeɪnɪʃ/ UK /dˈeɪnɪʃ/ dan·ish

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    adj.coming from or relating to the country of Denmark.

    adj.relating to Denmark, its inhabitants, or their culture.

    Simple

    We visited a small Danish village during our summer holiday.

    In context

    The exhibition showcases Danish design principles, emphasizing the functional minimalism that became famous in the mid-twentieth century.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    n.the language spoken by the people of Denmark.

    n.the North Germanic language spoken primarily in Denmark and parts of Northern Germany.

    Simple

    He decided to learn Danish before moving to Copenhagen for work.

    In context

    Although she was fluent in German, she found the phonology of Danish quite challenging to master during her first semester abroad.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate Informal Cooking

    n.a sweet, light bread or cake often filled with fruit, nuts, or cheese.

    n.a multilayered, laminated sweet pastry of the viennoiserie tradition, typically topped with fruit or cream cheese.

    Simple

    I grabbed a coffee and an apple danish on my way to the office.

    In context

    The bakery is famous for its almond danish, which features a delicate glaze and a rich frangipane filling.

    Usage

    Often used as a countable noun in American English to refer to a single pastry.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the people who come from Denmark.

    n.the people of Denmark collectively.

    Simple

    The Danish are known for their high quality of life and happiness.

    In context

    Historically, the Danish maintained a significant maritime empire that influenced trade routes throughout the Baltic and North Seas.

    Usage

    Usually preceded by 'the' when referring to the people as a group.


Etymology 1

Alteration of Middle English Denish, Dench (under the influence of Dan — compare Dane), from Old English Denisċ (“Danish”), from Proto-Germanic *daniskaz. By surface analysis, Dane + -ish.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Urdu دَانِش (dāniś), from Classical Persian دَانِش (dāniš).

Etymology 3

From Dan + -ish.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gem-pro *daniskaz
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated