-en/-et

Definite Suffix (-en/-et)

Level 2

In Danish, 'the' is not a separate word before the noun. Instead, you attach a suffix (-en or -et) directly to the end of the noun.

How It Works

Danish nouns are divided into two genders: common gender (en-words) and neuter gender (et-words). To make a noun definite (referring to a specific thing), you move the article to the end.

1. Basic Rules:

  • Common gender: en bil (a car) → bilen (the car)
  • Neuter gender: et hus (a house) → huset (the house)

2. Spelling Adjustments:

  • Nouns ending in -e: Just add -n or -t. Example: æble → æblet.
  • Consonant Doubling: If a noun has a short vowel followed by one consonant, double the consonant before adding the suffix. Example: kat → katten.
  • Stem Contraction: Nouns ending in unstressed -el, -en, or neuter nouns ending in -er often drop the 'e' in the stem (e.g., teater → teatret, våben → våbnet). However, common gender agent nouns ending in -er usually keep the 'e' (e.g., bager → bageren).

3. Definite Plurals:
To make a plural noun definite, you usually add -ne or -ene. Example: biler (cars) → bilerne (the cars).

4. When the Suffix Disappears:
The definite suffix is removed in two main cases:

  • With Adjectives: You use a separate article (den, det, or de) and the adjective takes the definite -e ending. Example: den store bil (the big car). This is known as no double definiteness.
  • With Possessives: When using possessive pronouns or a genitive -s, the noun stays in its indefinite form. Example: min bil (my car) or Peters bil (Peter's car), never min bilen.

Examples (4)

  1. Hunden sover i haven.

    The dog is sleeping in the garden.

    Word by Word: Dog-the sleeps in garden-the.

    Both 'hund' (common) and 'have' (common) take the -en suffix to become definite.

  2. Barnet leger med et æble.

    The child is playing with an apple.

    Word by Word: Child-the plays with an apple.

    'Barn' is neuter, so it becomes 'barnet'. Note that 'æble' is indefinite here.

  3. Vinduet er åbent.

    The window is open.

    Word by Word: Window-the is open.

    'Vindue' ends in -e, so we only add -t to make it definite.

  4. Katten sidder på bordet.

    The cat is sitting on the table.

    Word by Word: Cat-the sits on table-the.

    'Kat' doubles the 't' (katten), and 'bord' adds -et (bordet).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong gender suffix.

    et husen
    huset

    You must match the suffix to the noun's gender. Since it is 'et hus', the definite form must be 'huset'.

  • Using 'double definiteness' with adjectives.

    den store bilen
    den store bil

    In Danish, when an adjective is present, you use the article 'den/det' and remove the suffix from the noun.

  • Forgetting to double the consonant.

    katen
    katten

    Short stressed vowels require the following consonant to be doubled before adding the definite suffix.

How It Connects

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-en/-etLevel 2Definite Suffix (-en/-et)

Learn This First

To use the definite suffix correctly, you must first understand that Danish nouns have two genders (common and neuter). The choice between adding -en or -et to the end of a word corresponds to the indefinite articles 'en' and 'et' used with those same nouns.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 7 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

-en-et