Dating Danes: learning the (missing?) language of love in Denmark

About this episode

For a culture that is normally so practical and matter-of-fact (see Separate Duvets), Danes seem to find it surprisingly difficult to talk about relationships. Compared with other cultures, it’s rare in Denmark to ask someone out on a date in person (unless drunk) and there’s often missing vocabulary around defining what relationships are (there’s no direct translation for “dating”). All this means that non-Danes (and to some extent, Danes) can really struggle with navigating the world of relationships in Denmark.  In this episode we seek to explore why, and offer advice on what to do! Sam and Josefine are joined in the studio by Line Kirsten Nikolajsen, a radio presenter at DR (the Danish national broadcaster) who used to present Giftekniv, a show all about helping young people in the world of dating.  In the episode we cover: • Advice on how to approach a Danish person you think looks hot • How to do a first date in Denmark • A warning on saying “I love you” to a Dane • Differences between heterosexual and homosexual relationships • The gender (in)equality in Danish relationships • Danes (perhaps) being more comfortable dating friends than strangers • Experience