Ways to say it
| Danish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hej | /hɑj/ | |
| dav | /davˀ/ | |
| hallo | /halɔ/ /halɔː/ |
|
| halløj | informal |
These words are used as interjections to greet others. While hej is the standard greeting, hallo is often used specifically when answering the telephone or when trying to get someone's attention if they have not heard you.
Which one should you use?
hej is the most common and standard way to say hello in almost any situation. In contrast, hallo is often used specifically when answering the telephone or trying to get someone's attention if they have not heard you. The form halløj is a more playful, informal and energetic version of hello.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hej is an informal greeting used among friends and acquaintances, though it is the standard form for almost any situation. hallo is used in informal or casual settings. halløj is specifically noted as an informal and playful option. For more formal situations, you might use God dag (Good day), God morgen (Good morning) or God aften (Good evening) depending on the time of day.
How do you pronounce it?
/hɑj/
When do people say it?
In a more friendly and upbeat context, you might use hejsa to mean something like "Hey there!"
Did you know?
- The playful greeting halløj likely comes from a blend of hallo and ohøj, a nautical term used to hail ships.
- Using hallo in person can sometimes sound like a challenge or a sign of confusion, as it is primarily reserved for phones or shouting to get attention.
- In Denmark, the standard greeting hej is used so universally that it has largely replaced more formal options in daily social interactions.
Examples in context
- Jeg vil bare sige hej.I just wanted to say hello.This sentence shows the use of hej in a statement.Tatoeba #3552439 by danepo, translation #2012661 by CK
- Hej Tom! Hvordan går det?Hello Tom! How are you?This sentence demonstrates a casual greeting using hej followed by a question.Tatoeba #6116640 by sifhg, translation #6116393 by Adelpa
- Hallo! Er det personaleafdelingen?Hello, is this the personnel department?This sentence illustrates the use of hallo when addressing a specific department.Tatoeba #3850640 by danepo, translation #30974 by CK
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noah and Sofie meet at a local cafe.
- NoahHej, Sofie!Hello, Sofie!
- SofieHej, Noah. Hvordan har du det?Hello, Noah. How are you?
- NoahJeg har det godt, tak.I am doing well, thanks.
- SofieDet er jeg glad for at høre.I am happy to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries hej, dav, hallo, halløj, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dav, hallo, halløj, hej, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
