Danish Expression of the Day: What Klokken Lort Means

Learning Danish slang can help you blend in with locals in Copenhagen. According to media outlet The Local, klokken lort is a popular Danish slang expression. It literally translates to "shit o'clock" in English. Danes use it to describe a painfully early or late hour of the day. It expresses the physical pain of waking up at the crack of dawn.

This phrase is a relatively modern piece of Danish slang. According to the Danish Dictionary, it entered the official vocabulary in 1995. The expression highlights how relaxed Danes are with mild swearing in casual talk. Using this phrase makes you sound like a confident Danish speaker.

However, you should avoid using this expression in professional settings. Words like lort do not carry a heavy taboo in casual chats. Yet, the phrase remains relatively crude for workplace conversations. For example, locals say it when getting up early for a flight. They also use it when someone calls at a ridiculous hour at night.