Getting your head around the different ways to say hi and bye in Danish
There are a few ways to greet hello and say goodbye in Danish, and it can sometimes be difficult to know which is the most appropriate to use in the given context. Here’s a breakdown, so that you don’t find yourself saying vi ses to someone you’ll probably never see again.
Hej
You can never go wrong if you say hej when greeting someone. And while it’s more “correct” to say it twice (hej hej) when saying goodbye, it’s also fine to simply say hej.
Goddag
To many Danes, goddag is quite a formal hello. However, in Jylland, pronounced “goodaw”, it can be a fun, more familiar way to say hello.
Hej hej
A simple, can’t-go-wrong way to say goodbye.
Vi ses
This translates loosely to “see you”, but while in English-speaking countries you can use this whenever you’re saying goodbye - whether to a dear friend who's leaving the country for three years or to a group you might only see one more time in the distant future - it’s a little more strict in Danish. It’s best to say vi ses to the people you know you’ll see again soon.
Farvel
Farvel is the goodbye equivalent of goddag. It’s similar to saying “farewell” in English, so it’s okay not to use this when saying goodbye.
Ha’ det godt!
On top of hello and goodbye, there are also appropriate phrases to say in Danish when you’re parting ways. If it’s the morning, you’ll often hear a friend, co-worker, or cashier say “ha’ en god dag” (have a good day) when you say goodbye, and in return, it is polite to say “I lige måde”, which means “likewise”. When it is the afternoon or evening, say “ha’ en god aften” (have a good evening) and if it is a Friday or Saturday, say “ha’ en god weekend” (have a good weekend). You can also say "ha' det godt" or "hyg jer".
Hils
You might also often hear a Dane say “Hils insert friend’s/family’s name here” or “Hils derhjemme” meaning that you should greet the person they mention (or those you’re going home to). Often, it’s because they know you’ll be seeing this person soon. It might for example be your partner (kæreste) or a mutual friend. In response, you can say “det skal jeg nok” (I will), and when you do pass this greeting on, the receiver will probably say “thank you”, as to hils is to pass on regards/love in Denmark.
Kom godt hjem
It is also common to tell someone to get home safe, or to travel safe, and this is most often done by saying “kom godt hjem”.