If you’re considering learning a Scandinavian language, Swedish and Danish are two of the most practical choices. Both are Germanic languages with similarities to English, making them somewhat accessible for English speakers. But which one is harder to master? Let’s break down the key differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary to help you decide.

Pronunciation: the biggest challenge

Danish – the “Potato-in-the-Mouth” effect

Danish is notorious for its difficult pronunciation. Many learners describe it as sounding like someone is speaking with a potato in their mouth. Key challenges include:

• Soft D’s and glottal stops – words like “rødgrød med fløde” (red porridge with cream) are a nightmare for beginners.
• Silent letters – the written form often doesn’t match pronunciation (e.g., “hjerte” [heart] is pronounced “ya-da”).
• Regional accents – Copenhagen Danish differs significantly from Jutland dialects.

Swedish – musical but tricky

Swedish is generally considered easier to pronounce than Danish, but it has its quirks:

• Pitch accent – Swedish uses two tones that can change word meanings (e.g., “anden” can mean “the duck” or “the spirit” depending on tone).
• Rolling R’s – if you struggle with trilled R’s, Swedish might take some practice.
• Clearer vowel sounds – unlike Danish, Swedish vowels are more distinct.

Winner for easier pronunciation: Swedish

Grammar: surprisingly similar

Both Swedish and Danish have relatively simple grammar compared to German or Icelandic:

• No noun cases – unlike German, neither language uses complex declensions.
• Similar verb conjugations – verbs don’t change much based on person (e.g., “jag talar / jeg taler” = “I speak”).
• Gender systems – both have two grammatical genders (common and neuter), unlike Norwegian, which is shifting toward one.

Tie: grammar is nearly identical in difficulty.

Vocabulary: close but not identical

Swedish and Danish share many words, but false friends exist:

• “Rolig” means “funny” in Danish but “calm” in Swedish.
• “Frokost” is “lunch” in Danish but “breakfast” in Norwegian (which can confuse learners).

Swedish has more English loanwords, while Danish sometimes uses German-influenced terms.

Winner for easier vocabulary: Swedish (slightly)

Which one should you learn?

• Choose Swedish if you want clearer pronunciation and more resources (thanks to Sweden’s pop culture exports like ABBA and Ikea).
• Choose Danish if you’re moving to Denmark or enjoy a challenge – just be prepared for tricky pronunciation.

Final verdict

While both languages are manageable for English speakers, Danish is generally harder due to its pronunciation. However, if you learn one Scandinavian language, you’ll partially understand the others – so pick based on your goals!