Translation from English into Danish by qualified professional translators
Did you know that...
Danish is not only the official language of Denmark but also a minority language in Southern Schleswig in Germany where approx. 50,000 inhabitants speak Danish.*
Did you also know that Danish is a language with many dialects, even though they are increasingly disappearing and standard Danish is becoming a standard language to a greater extent. There are currently about 32 different dialects, where the main major dialects are Jutlandic, island dialects and Bornonian.*
In a linguistic context, people sometimes talk about false friends. A linguistic false friend is when a word sounds the same or looks the same in one language as in another, BUT has a completely different meaning. You have to watch out for these, as it can go very wrong if you use a false friend. The words in the different languages are thus homographs – they are spelt the same, homophones – they sound the same, or complete homonyms – they are both spelt and sound the same, but they are NOT synonyms – meaning the same thing.
Between the Nordic languages there are many false friends, and that is also the case between Swedish, English and German. If we look at the Nordic languages, for example, the Danish word ”rolig” does not mean funny in Swedish, but calm. So if you say that ”a evening was funny” in Swedish, in Danish it means that the evening was calm. If instead you want to explain to a Norwegian person that you have had a good evening, you can say ”artig kveld”. ”Artig” actually means just pleasant/fun in Norwegian. It can also go wrong if a Danish-speaking and a Swedish-speaking person talk about breakfast. The Danish word ”frokost” actually means lunch.
Visiting Denmark feels both cosy and pleasant, particularly as many Danish companies are classed as small to medium-sized and are often specialised in a specific area. The Danish system is very similar to the Swedish one, which means that as a Swede you can feel both secure and relaxed about doing business with Danish companies. Danish is also one of many languages that we translate into; our Danish translators are native Danish speakers and are very familiar with Danish culture.
One of the most common translation combinations that we do is translations from English into Danish. However, it is not uncommon to have translations into Danish from languages other than just English, as many businesses have connections to other markets or other official languages than just English. Naturally, we also help with other language combinations in these cases. When it comes to the English to Danish language combination, over the years we have built up a large network of specialist translators who translate from British English or American English into Danish. The translators have various areas of expertise, and before each translation, we review the source material carefully before consulting a suitable native-speaking translator who also gets to make their assessment of the material. If you are interested in translation from English into Danish within a certain subject category or any specific language combination, you are very welcome to contact us. You can do this most easily by filling in our form.
Our business areas
We operate within several different business areas such as medicine, technology, IT, law, economics and marketing. Below we explain what is generally good to consider when translating from English to Danish and more specifically within each industry area.
General tips for each business area when translating into Danish
A good source text is the alpha and omega for the best possible translation. Make sure the manuscript text is clear to get the best possible translation. Who is the target audience for the text and what is the message? Please provide the translator with this information so that the translator can adapt the text more easily.
A well-crafted text takes time to produce, we understand that. It is often said that the preparatory work is the most time-consuming part, but it is also extremely important for the final result. Therefore, make sure to clearly communicate the purpose of the material; what you want to achieve with the text and how the material is to be used. If there is a specific deadline for the assignment, do not forget to let us know.
If you are clear about your content from the outset, this will also be reflected in the translation, as the translator will have a better foundation to work from. When translating into Danish, it is helpful to provide as much information as possible alongside the script, such as the desired tone of voice and style level. The material often needs to be localised, and it is therefore beneficial to have reviewed what needs to be adapted before the translation begins. Is there a glossary or reference material available? We gratefully accept any business-specific information that you think might be relevant to our translation. This is to ensure we can best help you achieve the high-quality translation you are aiming for.
With us, we create translations according to your requirements and go through your tone of voice and style together before the translation starts. We also ensure the text is adapted to your specific terms used within the industry. Translating from English to Danish should be simple, smooth and time-saving, which is why we always deliver back in the same file format as we received the material.
Tips when translating from English to Danish in medicine, healthcare and social care
A mistranslation within healthcare can have devastating consequences. Therefore, it is extremely important to provide as much necessary information as possible to facilitate our translation into Danish. Good information could be, for example, who the material is aimed at. Is it for patients and their relatives, or is it for healthcare professionals? Often, the translation also needs to be adapted to different markets. In that case, it is good for our translators if they receive information about this when the assignment is started.
Tips for translating from English to Danish in technology and IT
Technical translations from English to Danish require the translator to have a high level of industry knowledge within the specific field the text concerns. Both in-depth technical knowledge and precision are required. Whether you need to translate your user manuals, website translations, or other documentation, it is always beneficial for us to know how the material is to be used. Is the material for internal use, or is it aimed at consumers, or perhaps retailers or subcontractors?
If there is any reference material that may be relevant to our translators, or specific industry-standard terminology that should be included when translating from English to Danish, please let us know when ordering the translation.
Tips for translating from English to Danish in law, economics and finance
Regardless of the industry and operations conducted, a company always has a variety of legal documents and financial documents. Sometimes you need help with the translation of these documents into Danish. Here we offer tips on what is good to keep in mind when translating financial reports or translating legal documents from English into Danish.
When translating an annual report or a quarterly report, you need to plan your translation in advance, as it is usually complex and involves many stakeholders.
Furthermore, many choose the same translator they have worked with previously, who has got to know their business well. Therefore, make sure to book your translator well in advance so they are not booked up elsewhere at the time your company is in need of translation assistance. Together with you, we will go through the schedule. Examples of things that can be good to prepare ahead of a translation are as follows:
- What deadlines do we have to work to?
- Would you prefer deliveries of the texts as you go or a single, combined delivery?
- Does the translator need to be on standby for any corrections after the translation delivery?
- Are there any specific standards/directives to take into account?
At Språkbolaget, we care about your security. Therefore, everyone works under confidentiality so that you can feel secure with what you entrust to us for translation. We can also set up separate non-disclosure agreements for assignments that require it. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
When translating legal documents, it is important to provide information about the type of translation you require. Does the document require a certified translation with a stamp or a standard translation without a stamp? With us, you can order certified translations from Danish into Swedish or from Swedish into Danish.
Tips for translating from English to Danish for communication agencies, advertising agencies, or internal marketing departments
It is not unusual for companies to hire external agencies to help with their communication and marketing. We at Språkbolaget are then often asked to translate things like websites, social media posts or marketing copy.
But what we rarely find out (unless it is obvious in the translation material) is who the end customer is and what their preferences are. Therefore, when translating from English to Danish, it is important that we get to know your end customer through a brief presentation at an initial meeting. This can range from preferences regarding tone and style, to words that should be included in the translation for better search engine optimisation. Other information that is good for us to know is: who is the target audience for the text to be translated into Danish? It is better to provide us with too much information than too little, and all information helps us deliver a high-quality translation into Danish for you and the end customer.
Our translators also provide copy translations (transcreation) from English into Danish, which involves, among other things, the translator adapting examples or comparisons in the text that, for cultural reasons, do not fit the new language or market.
The translator can also change the tone of the translation if you want a sassier tone, a positive tone or a more formal tone.
We regularly translate this type of assignment and have many experienced native English-to-Danish translators in our network.