Rest in peace (Danish)

How not to upset your new mother-in-law: After my first visit to Denmark to meet my future in-laws, I thought it would be nice to write a simple card to my partner's mother, who had been a wonderful host, to say 'Thanks for everything'. So I wrote a card that translated 'thanks for everything' directly into Danish: Tak for Alt. Little was I to know that in Denmark Tak for Alt is an expression that you only ever engrave on gravestones as an equivelent to 'Rest In Peace'!

Sent by: Daniel

Comments

Anne Katrine Kamper 2008-02-20

Haha, yes, I'm a Dane and I did this once in a yearbook we did for our elemetary teacher ... A fellow student pointed it out too late ... To this very day I don't know how she took it that I'd unintentionally written her off as dead.

Flag this comment

Kim Laugesen 2005-11-03

Hehe I am Danish and yes indeed that is what it means :P Very funny.

Flag this comment

BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.