Danish language council launches campaign to reduce English loanwords in everyday speech

The Danish Language Council has launched a nationwide campaign to examine the growing use of English words in daily Danish, urging speakers to reconsider their reliance on terms like “OMG,” “nice,” and “low-key.”

According to a report by DR, the initiative follows observations that English expressions—particularly slang from social media—are increasingly replacing Danish equivalents, even in casual conversation.

Students at Frederiksberg Gymnasium in Copenhagen told DR that English phrases like “oh my god,” “awesome,” and “comfy” have become automatic in their speech. Isabell Meidahl Porskrog, a second-year student, said such terms are “just part of how we talk with friends, both in and out of school.” Classmate Hanna Sabine Strauss added that English words “add nuance and color that Danish sometimes lacks.”

The campaign, running until May 29, invites the public to submit English terms they believe should be replaced with Danish alternatives. The goal is to compile a list of substitutions and raise awareness about language use, said Thomas Hestbæk Andersen, director of the Danish Language Council.

“Danish isn’t an endangered language, but social media is accelerating the influence of English and American expressions,” Andersen noted. He emphasized that while borrowing words isn’t inherently problematic, maintaining active use of Danish remains critical.

Student Aisha Khammal agreed, telling DR that many English abbreviations and phrases—especially from platforms like TikTok and Instagram—dominate texting among her peers. “It’s not bad to use English, but we shouldn’t let it replace Danish,” she said. “That would weaken our language over time.”