tysk
/tysk/neuter
In Danish, the word for the German language is tysk.
tysk is used to refer to the German language or to describe something as being of German origin, such as a German car.
Meaning: the German language (name)
Which one should you use?
While tysk refers to the language or the adjective 'German', the word tysker is used specifically to refer to a German person. Use tysk for the language and tysker for the people.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Southern Jutland, the term tyksker is used instead of tysker to refer to a German person.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the language itself, tysk is used as an indeclinable noun or adjective. The word for a German person, tysker, follows standard Danish noun declension with tysker in the singular and tyskere in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/tysk/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use tysker to mean the German language. However, tysker refers only to the people.
Did you know?
- In the 8th century, the term tysk was used in Latin texts as theodiscus to describe any local vernacular language rather than specifically the language of Germany.
Examples in context
- Min bil er tysk.My car is German.This sentence shows how to use tysk as an adjective to describe a car.Tatoeba #2558347 by danepo, translation #251077 by CK
- Kan vi tale tysk?Can we speak German?This sentence demonstrates a question about speaking the language tysk.Tatoeba #3610037 by danepo, translation #3278844 by CN
- Jeg talte kun tysk.I was speaking only German.This sentence illustrates the use of tysk when discussing a language one spoke.Tatoeba #3817457 by Mlkragelund, translation #3814071 by corvard
- Jeg vil gerne lære tysk.I would like to learn German.
- 84 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mads and Sofie are at a café discussing language learning.
- MadsEr det her tysk?Is this German?
- SofieNej, det er dansk.No, it is Danish.
- MadsJeg vil gerne lære tysk.I would like to learn German.
- SofieDet er et godt sprog.That is a good language.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “german” translations and entries tysk, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tysk, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
