Tuesday, July 22, 2025
The Copenhagen Metro has officially changed its English notices to use pronunciation of station names in Danish. A switch was announced on July 1, 2025, following a survey in which many visitors indicated that they would prefer the station names to be pronounced as they sound in Danish, rather than be pronounced as in English.
Metroselskabet, the state entity in charge of running the metro network, said the survey was carried out to provide an insight into the tastes of the public transit clientele in Copenhagen. The original pronunciations in English were made to help non-Danish speakers to get familiar with the names of the stations more easily.However, many of the international passengers stated that it was more authentic and helpful to hear the names in Danish, especially when they were asking for directions.
Reason for the Change in Pronunciations
Station names were also initially pronounced (in English announcements) using English pronunciation (rather than by reading the Danish name, to familiarize it for potential English-speaking tourists) with the introduction of the Copenhagen Metro. But the pronunciation switch became official after Metroselskabet received feedback from users, who claimed that not only had the Danish pronunciation helped them in being able to learn the proper local pronunciations, it did make things clearer when asking for directions.
Changes in the AnnouncementsChanges in the Announcements
As part of the transition, 99 announcements in English on the Copenhagen Metro were recorded again by the same voice actor, Thomas Magnussen. The new pronunciations were recorded by Magnussen, together with his co-narrator Katrine Falkenberg, to make sure that names of the stations are said the way they should be in Danish.
Now the re-recorded announcements include more realistic pronunciations suitable for the Copenhagen Metro’s Danish-speaking population. Previously, names sounded English with English accent, now they do have the authentic Danish accent and pronunciation.
Public Reception of the New Pronunciations
Most of city′s citizens and visitors tend to praise the English station hall announcement changes. International passengers now had help with learning the Danish language, as they could now understand how to pronounce various station names.
One of the primary advantages of the update is the improvement to the experience of individuals journeying to and from the city. The new system makes it easier for tourists, locals and transport employees to communicate, since they all now speak in terms of station names.
The Impact on Tourists and International Residents
As Copenhagen is such a popular place to visit, drawing millions of foreign people each year, catering to travelers’ likes is a key concern for Metroselskabet. Adopting a Danish pronunciation from the beginning is particularly to the advantage of tourists desiring to familiarize themselves with the culture and language of the country during their stay.
Furthermore for foreign residents who have adopted Copenhagen as their home, the new pronunciation is a more inclusive way to be part of the local community. Residents can now learn to engage in their environment naturally, by being able to recognize familiar places spoken in the local language.
Sustainability and Future Plans
The switch in pronunciation is part of a wider push to update the city metro, re-establishing it as a system that is easy to use, more open, and culturally linked to the city. Metroselskabet has also stressed that the move will help in making the transport more sustainable and user friendly for foreign residents and tourists.
Sustainability is still key in the Copenhagen Metro, where focus is continuously put on improved total quality, minimized environmental impact, and the continued support of multilingual travel. The inclusion of Danish-speaking pronunciations in the metro announcements is just one of the examples of how the metro is still maturing, developing into an enjoyable and seamless system for all passengers.
Conclusion
The altered pronunciation is a part of the wider trend towards cultural authenticity in both the listening experience and journey for all users of the transit system. “Through the feedback from internationals and tourists, Metroselskabet has shown willingness to develop the metro positively whilst adhering to the Danish heritage binding Copenhagen.
This move is consistent with the city’s grand plans for cultural fusion and environment-friendly development of its public transportation system. As more and more tourists make their way to the Danish capital, these changes are a tiny step toward making the city’s metro system as hospitable and easy to use for world travelers as possible.
(Source: Metroselskabet)
