The main Denmark abbreviation is DK, Denmark's official two-letter code, found on mail, forms, car stickers and web addresses. The longer DNK appears on passports, airline systems and data tables, and DEN is the code you see on sports scoreboards.
DK comes from Danmark, the country's name in Danish, which is why it does not start with "DE." That two-letter pair was already taken by Germany, whose code comes from Deutschland. Knowing that one fact clears up most of the confusion.
Quick facts
Two-letter code
DKThree-letter code
DNKSports code
DEN (Olympics and soccer)Web ending
.dkCurrency
DKK, the Danish kroneCalling code
+45Not to be confused with
DE (Germany), DM (Dominica)
Every Denmark abbreviation in one table
| Code | System | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| DK | Two-letter international standard | Address forms, shipping labels, drop down menus, car stickers |
| DNK | Three-letter international standard | Passports, visas, statistics, airline records |
| DEN | Olympic and international soccer codes | Medal tables, match graphics, team jerseys |
| .dk | Internet country domain | Danish web addresses |
| DKK | Currency code | Exchange rates, bank transfers |
| da | Language code for Danish | Website language settings |
Why DK and not DE
The two-letter codes were assigned by an international standards body, and many of them follow what a nation calls itself at home. In Danish, the country is Danmark, so D and K were a natural fit. Germany received DE from Deutschland. The same logic explains CH for Switzerland, from its Latin name, and ES for Spain, from España. Compare the pattern on our Germany and Sweden pages.
Which abbreviation for Denmark to use
- Mailing a letter or package: end the address with DENMARK spelled out. Sorting staff read a spelled out country name more reliably than a code.
- Online forms: pick Denmark from the menu; the system stores DK behind the scenes.
- Travel documents: passports and boarding passes use DNK for nationality.
- Sports results: expect DEN next to the flag.
- Running text: spell out Denmark. Codes look out of place in a sentence.
On a customs form: "Country of origin: DK." This means the goods were made in Denmark, not that they passed through it.
Money, phones and travel codes
- DKK: the Danish krone. In shops, prices are often marked "kr."
- +45: the country calling code. Danish numbers have eight digits after it.
- CPH: the airport code for Copenhagen, the capital and largest city.
- DK sticker: the oval sign on a car from Denmark when it drives abroad.
Airport codes like CPH work the same way as LAX for Los Angeles: three letters that name one airport, not a country.
Codes that look like Denmark's
A few pairs cause mix ups on forms:
- DE is Germany, not Denmark.
- DM is Dominica, a Caribbean island nation.
- DO is the Dominican Republic.
- DJ is Djibouti, in East Africa.
Confirm the pair on any label before it ships. Other nations, cities and airports are covered in country abbreviations.
Writing Denmark in a sentence
- "Ship to: Aarhus, DK" fits a label with little room.
- "She moved to Denmark for graduate school" spells it out in normal writing.
- "DEN leads the group after two matches" uses the sports code on a scoreboard.
- "The fee is listed in DKK" names the currency.
People from Denmark are Danes, and the matching adjective is Danish. Neither is usually abbreviated.
Questions people ask
Which two-letter abbreviation does Denmark use?
It is DK. It is the official two-letter country code and also the basis for the .dk web ending.
Does Denmark have a three-letter code too?
The standard three-letter code is DNK, used on passports and in data. Sports bodies use DEN instead.
Why is Denmark DK?
The code comes from Danmark, the country's name in Danish. DE was already assigned to Germany, from Deutschland.
Is DEN or DK correct for Denmark?
Both are correct in their own places. DK is the general country code, while DEN is used in the Olympics and international soccer.
What is the currency abbreviation for Denmark?
It is DKK, the Danish krone. Store signs inside Denmark often show kr. instead.