Five Danish phrases causing my allergic response:

Reviled Danish Phrases:Michael Barrett shares his gripes about some Danish words in this informal, straightforward critique.

Here's the dirt on those pesky Danish phrases:

Danish boasts a vibrant language with fascinating words and expressions that English can't touch. But, like any wonderful language, it has a few problem children that irk Michael Barrett.

Shitstorm

Meaning a period of contention or controversy, usually triggered by someone's actions or words, "shitstorm" has gained incredible popularity in Denmark in recent years, especially in the media. The term is so well-used it even has a spot in the Danish dictionary.

The offending word appears in everything from journalistic headlines (Viborg Kommune i shitstorm over boligkampagne) to heavily contrived and nonsensical expressions (Shitstorm i et glas vand, meaning 'Storm in a tea cup'). Despite a wealth of more descriptive, accurate, and genuinely Danish-sounding alternatives to describe controversy or criticism (kritikstorm, kritikbølge, kontrovers, modreaktion, i modvind), "shitstorm" continues to prevail.

Udlændingeområdet/Udlændingepolitik

Using English loanwords may be pushing the boundaries of Danish, but the terms "Udlændingeområdet" (the topic of foreigners) and "Udlændingepolitik" (immigration policy) fall into this category. While "immigration" is known as indvandring or immigration, these terms begin to refer to political policy concerning foreigners, which many find negatively charged.

This wording grates on Barrett because it makes him hear "foreigners" in a way that seems like a blanket policy for dealing with outsiders rather than focusing on the specific matter of immigration. While a Dane might simply read "udlænding" as "immigration," the perception for Barrett is markedly different.

Kolonialvarer

During a recent renovation of his local Bilka, the store reorganized the aisles, including a rebranding of the "world foods" section. Their new label? Kolonialvarer, or "colonial products." This moniker hearkens back to a time when Denmark was a slave-trading nation, and while this unsavory part of Danish history has mostly disappeared, the name of the aisle still seems to reference something that should have been left in the past.

One might simply label it "World Food" instead.

Natten til...

When discussing a time during the night, you can say "natten til onsdag" (the night before Wednesday)— replace Wednesday with the day of interest. While this phrase sounds pleasant, it presents a problem: it's impossible to translate accurately, as "natten til onsdag" could refer to very late on Tuesday or very early on Wednesday. This forces speakers to use an unwieldy phrase like "during the night going into Wednesday" when a straightforward term like "early this morning" or "late last night" would suffice.

Uge 23

In contemporary Danish, it's customary to reference weeks rather than dates for appointments, deadlines, and more. This practice confounds Barrett, as understanding the exact month is difficult when relying on week numbers. However, he does offer a solution – setting your phone's calendar to display week numbers makes this dilemma a quick fix.

Conclusion

These words reveal deep, complex issues within Danish culture and society. At times, small linguistic choices can illuminate larger themes of prejudice, exclusion, and historical erasure. But even with these problematic terms, Danish remains an incredible, constantly evolving language. And hey, as Barrett notes, some of the alternatives are less than stellar too. After all, who amongst us hasn't winced at the English phrase "Storm in a tea cup"?

Michael Barrett criticizes the lack of suitable alternatives in Danish language, finding "kritikstorm," "kritikbølge," "kontrovers," "modreaktion," and "i modvind" inadequate compared to the widely-used "shitstorm."
Barrett expresses his discomfort with the terms "Udlændingeområdet" and "Udlændingepolitik," describing them as negatively charged and evoking blanket policy toward outsiders instead of immigration-specific focus.
In a revival of Denmark's past, the "world foods" section at a local store was rebranded as "Kolonialvarer," sparking criticism due to the association with the country's slave-trading history.
The Danish phrase "natten til onsdag" proves problematic for Barrett as it lacks the clarity of "early this morning" or "late last night."
In modern Danish culture, week numbers are commonly used for appointments, deadlines, and other matters, leaving Barrett struggling to identify the exact month.
Barrett finds issue with the use of week numbers but suggests setting one's phone calendar to display week numbers as a quick resolution.
Reflecting on Danish language, Barrett notes the deeper cultural and societal themes that small linguistic choices may expose, such as prejudice, exclusion, and historical erasure, while acknowledging that Danish is an evolving language with its own set of imperfections, just like English.