Languages of Denmark

A large majority (about 86%)[1] of Danes also speak English as a second language; it is mandatory for Danish students to learn from first grade in the public elementary schools (Danish: folkeskole), by far the most popular option in the country.

In the 1st (or 3rd, depends on the school) grade of folkeskole, a third language option is given, usually German or French.

The third most widely understood foreign language is Swedish, with about 13% of Danes reporting to be able to speak it.

It is also spoken by some Faroese immigrants in mainland Denmark.

Faroese is similar to Icelandic and retains many features of Old Norse, the source of all North Germanic languages.

Knowledge of the German language in Denmark, 2005. According to the Eurobarometer, [ 1 ] 58% of the respondents indicated that they know German well enough to have a conversation. Of these 15% (per cent, not percentage points) reported a very good knowledge of the language whereas 33% had a good knowledge and 52% basic German skills.