Essential Glossary for Expats in Denmark
A-kasse
Unemployment insurance fund.
Aconto
Advance payment for utilities that is adjusted annually
Affaldssortering
Waste sorting (strict rules in many municipalities).
Aflæsning
Meter reading (important for billing).
Akuttelefonen
Emergency medical helpline (1813).
AM-bidrag
Labor market contribution (tax).
Andelsbolig
Housing cooperative.
Arbejdsglæde
Happiness at work, work-life balance.
Arbejdstilladelse
Work permit.
Årsopgørelse
Annual tax statement.
Barsel
Parental leave.
Betalingsservice
Automatic payment service for bills.
Blå Mandag
“Blue Monday” (day off after confirmation).
Boligportal
Housing search website.
Boligstøtte
Housing benefit or housing allowance provided by the Danish government to help residents with limited income cover their housing costs. Here’s a comprehensive explanation:
– A financial subsidy paid by the government to help with rental expenses
– Available for both renters in private and public housing
– Designed to make housing more affordable for people with lower incomes
Who can receive it:
– Danish citizens
– EU/EEA citizens who are registered as Danish residents
– Non-EU citizens with permanent residence permits
– Students (though with different rules than regular boligstøtte)
– Seniors (special rules apply)
– Families with children (often qualify for higher amounts)
Key factors affecting eligibility and amount:
– Your income and assets
– Size of your housing (square meters)
– Monthly rent amount
– Number of people in your household
– Number of rooms in your home
– Whether you have children
– Age (different rules for seniors)
Borgerforslag
Citizen proposal (petition system).
Borgerservice
Citizen service center.
Børnehave
Kindergarten (3-6 years).
Budgetkonto
Budget account.
Bundskat
Base tax.
CPR Number
A CPR number is Denmark’s personal ID number used across all government, healthcare, and banking systems.
Dagpenge
Unemployment benefits.
Dankort
Danish debit card.
Depositum
Security deposit.
e-Boks
Digital mailbox for official communications from authorities.
Efterløn
Early retirement scheme.
Ejendomsværdiskat
Property value tax.
Ejerforening
Homeowners’ association.
Ejerlejlighed
Owner-occupied apartment.
Fagforening
Labor union.
Fællesskab
Community, togetherness.
Feriepenge
Holiday pay.
FGU
Preparatory Basic Education
Fleksjob
Flexible job arrangement for people with reduced work capacity.
Flyttedag
Moving day (traditionally quarterly dates).
Folkeregister
National Registration Office.
Folkeskole
Public primary and lower secondary school.
Forbrugsafregning
Consumption settlement statement.
Forskudsopgørelse
Preliminary tax assessment.
Forudbetalt leje
Prepaid rent.
Fredagshygge
Friday evening coziness, often with candy (fredagsslik).
Fremleje
Subletting.
Fritidshjem/SFO
After-school care.
Fugtighedsmåler
Humidity meter (important for mold issues).
Funktionærloven
Salaried Employees Act.
Genbrugsstation
Recycling center.
Grundejerforening
Homeowners’ association for houses.
Gymnasium
Upper secondary school.
Hjemmearbejde
Work from home.
Hvidvaskregler
Anti-money laundering rules (affects banking).
Hygge
Cozy atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life.
Istandsættelse
Renovation/restoration (often required when moving out).
Janteloven
Cultural concept discouraging individual success/boasting.
Julefrokost
Christmas lunch (important workplace tradition).
Kaffepause
Coffee break (often important social ritual).
Kartoffelferien
Potato holiday (autumn school break).
Klassefest
Class reunion/party.
Kolonihave
Allotment garden.
Kommune
Municipality/local government.
Kontanthjælp
Cash assistance (welfare).
Kreditværdighed
Creditworthiness.
Lejekontrakt
Lease Agreement / Rental contract.
Lejeregulering
Rent regulation/adjustment.
Lønforhandling
Salary negotiation process.
Lønseddel
Pay slip.
MobilePay
Danish mobile payment app.
Morgensang
Morning song (tradition in schools).
MUS-Samtale
Employee development conversation.
NemID/MitID
Digital signature system for accessing public and private services online.
NemKonto
Account designated for payments from public authorities.
Netbank
Online banking.
Nytårskur
New Year’s reception (business custom).
Opholdstilladelse
Residence permit
Opsigelsesvarsel
Notice period.
Overarbejde
Overtime.
P-Skive
Parking disc required in many areas.
Pensionsopsparing
Pension savings.
Praktiserende læge
General practitioner.
Rejsegarantifond
Travel Guarantee Fund.
Rejsekort
Public transport travel card.
RKI
Danish debt registry.
Rødgrød med fløde
Traditional Danish dessert and pronunciation challenge.
Sammenskudsgilde
Potluck dinner.
Sankt Hans
Midsummer celebration.
SKAT
Danish Tax Authority.
Smørrebrød
Open-faced sandwich.
Stjerneskud
“Shooting star” (popular Danish open sandwich).
SU
State educational grant.
Sundhedshus
Health center.
Sundhedskort
Health insurance card.
Tandlægeeftersyn
Dental check-up (important because partially covered).
Tillidsrepræsentant
Union representative.
Tinglysning
Property registration process.
Topskat
Top tax bracket.
Vandregning
Water bill.
Varmeregning
Heating bill.
Varmeregnskab
Annual heating account statement.
Varslingsperiode
Notice period for rent increases.
Vejfest
Street party.
Viceværtsfunktion
Building superintendent services.