Stavemåde

Stavemåde, or orthography, is the conventional system for writing a language. It includes rules for which letters to use, how sounds are represented in writing, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, and how compounds are formed and divided at line breaks. The purpose of a stavemåde is to enable consistent written communication, support literacy, facilitate cross-border and historical readability, and preserve aspects of etymology and tradition.

In Danish, stavemåde is governed by a standardized orthography. The Danish alphabet consists of 29 letters: the basic Latin alphabet plus the letters æ, ø, and å. Spelling rules guide how Danish words are formed, how borrowed terms are integrated, and how compounds are written—often as one word, with hyphenation used in certain cases for clarity or at line breaks. Capitalization rules in modern Danish are relatively limited: only the first word of a sentence and proper nouns are capitalized.

Spelling standards have evolved through reforms and official guidance. A notable reform in Danish orthography occurred in 1948, when the digraph aa was replaced by å in most uses. The current standard is maintained by language authorities such as Dansk Sprognævn, which publishes official guidance and references like Ordbog over det danske Sprog. These resources reflect a balance between phonetic representation, historical forms, and practical needs in education, publishing, and everyday writing.

There is some variation between formal written Danish and informal or dialectal spellings, especially for loanwords and brand names. Nevertheless, stavemåde provides a stable framework for written Danish and for linguistic study, while allowing for registered exceptions and evolution over time.