Three different ways to say “I think” in Danish.
Welcome!
In English, we use “I think” in many situations:
- I think this movie is good.
- I think he is at home.
- I think the government should change the law.
But Danish uses three different verbs depending on what you mean:
- synes → personal opinion or feeling
- tror → belief or guess
- mener → opinion based on reasoning or judgment
Learning the difference will help your Danish sound much more natural.
1️⃣ Synes — Personal Opinion
Use synes when you are expressing a personal feeling or opinion about something.
Examples:
Jeg synes, filmen er god.
I think the movie is good.
Jeg synes, dansk er svært.
I think Danish is difficult.
Hun synes, kaffen er stærk.
She thinks the coffee is strong.
Think of synes as meaning:
- in my opinion
- I feel that
- I find that
You often use synes when talking about things like:
- movies
- food
- music
- people
- experiences
2️⃣ Tror — Belief or Guess
Use tror when you believe something is true, but you are not completely sure.
Examples:
Jeg tror, det regner senere.
I think it will rain later.
Jeg tror, han er hjemme.
I think he is at home.
Hun tror, mødet starter klokken 10.
She thinks the meeting starts at 10.
Here tror means something like:
- I believe
- I guess
- I assume
You use tror for:
- predictions
- guesses
- things you are not sure about
3️⃣ Mener — Thoughtful Opinion
Use mener when you give an opinion based on reasoning, argument, or belief.
Examples:
Jeg mener, vi skal starte tidligere.
I think we should start earlier.
Hun mener, at det er en dårlig idé.
She thinks it is a bad idea.
Han mener, at skolen skal ændres.
He believes the school should change.
Here mener is closer to:
- I believe
- I argue that
- My view is that
It is often used when discussing:
- ideas
- plans
- politics
- decisions
4️⃣ Easy Way to Remember
Ask yourself what kind of “thinking” it is.
| Situation | Verb |
|---|---|
| Personal opinion | synes |
| Guess or belief | tror |
| Reasoned opinion | mener |
Examples:
Opinion about taste:
Jeg synes, pizzaen er god.
Guess:
Jeg tror, restauranten er lukket.
Argument or suggestion:
Jeg mener, vi skal prøve en anden restaurant.
5️⃣ Common Mistake
English speakers often say:
❌ Jeg tror, filmen er god.
This sounds like you are guessing if the movie is good.
Correct:
✅ Jeg synes, filmen er god.
🎯 Practice Time
Choose synes, tror, or mener.
1️⃣ I think Danish is difficult.
2️⃣ I think he is at home.
3️⃣ I think we should leave now.
4️⃣ I think this café is great.
Answers
1️⃣ Jeg synes, dansk er svært.
2️⃣ Jeg tror, han er hjemme.
3️⃣ Jeg mener, vi skal gå nu.
4️⃣ Jeg synes, denne café er fantastisk.
👍 Tip from Freja
If you’re not sure which one to use:
- synes is the safest choice for everyday opinions.
- tror is for guesses.
- mener is for stronger or more thoughtful opinions.
With practice, the difference will start to feel natural.