Last updated: 25th February 2024
Guys. This is truly one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to English-to-Danish translations: the commonly mistranslated word is "free," which can signify both "gratis" (no cost) and "fri" (liberty). All the time, I see how these nuances lead to translation errors, particularly in commercial contexts. One (mis)translation in particular that I see often – and even with reputable brands – is "free delivery" as "fri levering" or "fri fragt" instead of "gratis levering."
Why Is This Such a Common Mistake?
A common error in translating English into Danish involves choosing the correct Danish equivalent for the word "free." Translators often oscillate between "gratis" and "fri," leading to potential miscommunications. This challenge primarily arises from the direct translation method, where translators might opt for "fri" because of its phonetic resemblance to "free" without considering the intended meaning. This issue is particularly prominent in marketing materials where "free" should convey "no cost," a vital point for effective marketing and customer satisfaction.
Moreover, the rapid pace of some work settings or a superficial grasp of the text's deeper meaning can exacerbate this problem. When faced with the word "free" in English, it is crucial for the translator to carefully analyze the context to determine if it relates to price or liberty, which is not always straightforward.
In the image above, you see how the famous Danish brand LEGO has even made this mistake.
Best Practices
To avoid these pitfalls, translators should:
Contextual Evaluation: Always analyze the context in which "free" is used. Is it related to a price promotion, or is it discussing liberty or rights?
Use of Tools: Leverage translation memories and glossaries that include past translations and contexts to guide decision-making.
Case Studies and Examples
If you're ever in doubt, an easy way to quickly understand whether you should use one or the other, is simply by substituting it. You'll often find that the alternative doesn't make sense in Danish. Her are some common examples:
Using "Gratis"
Free trial / Gratis prøveperiode
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Du kan tilmelde dig en gratis prøveperiode på vores platform."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "You can sign up for a free trial period on our platform."
Explanation: This example clearly demonstrates the use of "gratis" in Danish to mean that the trial period does not involve any financial cost, inviting users to try the service without a payment obligation.
Free delivery / Gratis levering
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Alle ordrer over 500 kr. tilbydes med gratis levering."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "All orders over 500 kr. come with free delivery."
Explanation: The sentence uses "gratis" to indicate that the delivery service is included without additional charges, a common promotion in e-commerce to enhance customer satisfaction and sales.
Free samples / Gratis vareprøver
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Besøg vores butik for at få gratis vareprøver af nye produkter."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "Visit our store to receive free samples of new products."
Explanation: "Gratis" here informs customers that they can obtain product samples at no cost, a marketing strategy intended to attract customers and introduce new products.
Using "Fri"
Free entrance/access / Fri adgang
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Medlemskab giver fri adgang til alle klubfaciliteter."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "Membership provides free access to all club facilities."
Explanation: In this context, "fri adgang" highlights the liberty of accessing facilities without restrictions, rather than focusing on the absence of a cost.
Free will / Fri vilje
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Mennesker bør altid handle ud fra deres egen fri vilje."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "People should always act according to their own free will."
Explanation: The use of "fri" pertains to the philosophical concept of acting without external coercion, emphasizing the ability to make choices independently.
Free thinking / Fri tænkning
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Universiteterne bør fremme fri tænkning blandt studerende."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "Universities should promote free thinking among students."
Explanation: This example shows "fri" being used to describe the type of thinking that is unbounded by conformist or authoritarian restrictions, promoting an environment of intellectual freedom.
Cases Where It Can Be Tricky Choosing Between "Fri" and "Gratis"
Free Bar / Gratis bar vs. Fri bar
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Til firmafesten vil der være en fri bar, hvor alle drikkevarer er gratis hele aftenen."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "At the company party, there will be an open bar, where all drinks are free for the entire evening."
Explanation: "Fri bar" usually refers to an open bar where guests have the liberty to choose any drink without restriction, whereas "alle drikkevarer er gratis" emphasizes that there is no charge for the drinks. Thus "fri bar" doesn't convey that the bar is "for free", but rather that you'd need to pay a certain amount tha would then give you unlimited/unrestricted access.
Free Space / Gratis plads vs. Fri plads
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Der er fri plads i lokalet, og vi tilbyder gratis plads til tidlige tilmeldere."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "There is free space in the venue, and we are offering free spots to early registrants."
Explanation: "Fri plads" can be used to indicate unoccupied space or the freedom to use a space, while "gratis plads" would imply that no payment is required for usage. Depending on the promotional context, determining which term to use can be ambiguous without explicit details.
Free Software / Gratis software vs. Fri software
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Programmet tilbydes som fri software, og det betyder, at det også er gratis."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "The program is offered as free software, which also means it is free of charge"
Explanation: Explanation: In this context, "fri software" refers to the liberty to use, modify, and distribute the software (often associated with open-source software), while "gratis software" emphasizes that there is no cost to obtain the software. The dual nature of 'free software' can be challenging to translate accurately without additional context.
Free Parking / Gratis parkering vs. Fri parkering
🇩🇰 Danish Sentence: "Hotellet tilbyder fri parkering overnat, selvom pladserne er gratis for alle gæster."
🇺🇸 English Translation: "The hotel offers free parking overnight, although the spots are free for all guests."
Explanation: "Fri parkering" generally suggests that parking is not limited or restricted, whereas "gratis parkering" means no charge for parking. This scenario could be confusing if not properly contextualized.
To Add to The Confusion
In Danish translations, the differentiation between "gratis" and "fri" becomes further complicated by set expressions that incorporate the suffix "-fri." This suffix, translating to "free from" or "without," is commonly used to denote the absence of something, which can blur the lines between cost-related "free" and liberational "free." Here are a few examples:
Fragtfri: This term specifically means "without shipping costs." It's used in commerce to indicate that the recipient does not have to pay for the delivery of goods.
Gebyrfri: Another similar term is "gebyrfri," meaning "without fees." This is often used in financial contexts to indicate the absence of additional charges.
Portofri: "Portofri" refers to the absence of postage costs, similar to "fragtfri" but specifically relating to mail or parcels.
Skattefri: Similarly, "skattefri" translates to "tax-free," indicating that a transaction or income does not attract tax.
But it also appears in many other places where the lines are less blurred, such as røgfri (smoke-free), glutenfri (gluten-free), laktosefri (lactose-free), sukkerfri (sugar-free) etc.
Conclusion
Accurate translation goes beyond mere word-for-word replacement – it involves conveying the intended message as faithfully as possible. Especially with words like "free," the stakes are high due to their potential impact on business communications and consumer perceptions. As such, translators must prioritize context and clarity to ensure their translations enhance rather than obscure the intended message.
Have you encountered similar translation challenges? Share your experiences in the comments or reach out to me if you want to explore a collaboration for English to Danish translations. And stay tuned for upcoming posts!