Category: Greetings & PhrasesPart of speech: interjectionDifficulty: Common
Hej
/Hej/Roman
English meaning: Hello
Definition
The most common Danish greeting, used at any time of day.
Example
“Hej! Hvordan har du det?”
In English: “Hello! How are you?”
Another example: “Hej, hvor er det længe siden!”
Usage — When, Where & How
The all-purpose, neutral Danish greeting used at any time of day with anyone — friends, strangers, shop assistants. Often doubled as 'Hej hej' to mean goodbye in casual speech.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
The word 'hej' originates from the German 'hei' or 'hey', which functioned as an interjection to attract attention or greeting. It has been integrated into Danish vocabulary and is widely used in informal settings.
Common Collocations
- Hej med dig
- Hej hej
- Hej alle sammen
- Hej igen
- Hej der
Word Forms
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Language information
- Language
- Dansk
- Danish
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Germanic
- Speakers
- 6M