The Danish language, which is the official language of Denmark and is spoken by around 5 - 6 million people (in and around Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, as well as other communities), developed during the Middle Ages from Old Norse (a common predecessor of Swedish and Danish). Danish is a North Germanic language that evolved from Old Norse, which was spoken by the Scandinavian peoples during the Viking Age. It developed in Denmark, alongside its close relatives Swedish and Norwegian, and traces its origins to Proto-Norse, the language of the early Scandinavian tribes. Over time, Old Danish began to distinguish itself from Old Swedish and Old Norwegian, particularly after the Viking Age, with the establishment of the Danish kingdom and the gradual spread of Christianity, which brought Latin and other foreign influences into the language. By the 16th century, Danish had evolved into Early Modern Danish, with significant changes in phonology, grammar, and vocabulary.

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During the 19th and 20th centuries, Danish underwent further changes as the country became more centralized and modernized. The language's written form was standardized in the 18th and 19th centuries, with major works like the Danish grammar by Rasmus Rask and the spelling reform of 1872, which aligned the written language more closely with its pronunciation. Danish has remained the official language of Denmark and has influenced and been influenced by neighboring languages, particularly German, English, and Scandinavian languages. Today, Danish is spoken by approximately 5 - 6 million people, primarily in Denmark and Greenland, and has developed a distinctive sound and vocabulary that sets it apart from other Scandinavian languages, even though they share a common historical origin.

The language is a member of the East Scandinavian branch of the North Germanic languages. The oldest Danish records re runic inscriptions (CE 250 - 800). The oldest Danish manuscripts date from around the 13th century. ​