velbekomme
The Danish phrase for "enjoy your meal" is velbekomme.
velbekomme is a polite phrase used to wish someone a pleasant dining experience before they begin eating. It is the most common and standard way to say "enjoy your meal" in Danish.
Did you know?
- The word velbekomme shares its root with the English word 'become', but in Danish it relates to something that 'comes well' to you, like a benefit or a blessing.
- In many social settings, you might hear people say velbekomme in response to 'tak for mad', which means 'thanks for the food'.
- While English speakers use 'enjoy your meal' as a wish for the future, the Danish velbekomme is structurally more about the well-being that the food brings to the body.
Examples in context
- Velbekomme!Enjoy your meal!
- Tak, velbekomme.Thank you, enjoy your meal (as a response to someone else saying it).
Example conversation
Lucas serves dinner to Sofie at the table.
- LucasHer er din aftensmad, Sofie. Velbekomme!Here is your dinner, Sofie. Enjoy your meal!
- SofieMange tak, Lucas.Thank you very much, Lucas.
- LucasDet ser lækkert ud, ikke?It looks delicious, doesn't it?
- SofieJa, det dufter fantastisk!Yes, it smells fantastic!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry velbekomme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries velbekomme, CC BY-SA 4.0.
