i
In
The Danish preposition i is most commonly used to describe being inside a physical space, living in a city or country, or expressing how long something lasts (duration).
How It Works
The preposition i is one of the most versatile words in Danish. Its usage can be broken down into four main categories:
1. Physical Location and Geography
Use i for enclosed spaces (rooms, boxes) and most geographical areas like cities and countries.
- i København (in Copenhagen)
- i Tyskland (in Germany)
Note: While Danish islands and nations like på Island (Iceland) or på Færøerne (the Faroes) take på, many major island nations like Japan, Cuba, and Storbritannien (Great Britain) take i. Notably, i Grønland (Greenland) normally takes i. Learn these geographical prepositions with each name; size alone is not a reliable rule.
2. Time and Duration
- Duration: Translates to 'for' (e.g., i to timer - for two hours).
- Specific Periods: Used for months, years, and specific seasons. Use i sommer for a particular summer, including a recent one in past context; sidste sommer unambiguously means last summer. You may hear informal i sommers, but use i sommer or sidste sommer in standard edited writing. Contrast this with om for recurring habits (e.g., om sommeren - in the summer generally).
3. States and Conditions
Use i to describe a person's state of mind or a condition.
- i godt humør (in a good mood)
- i tvivl (in doubt)
- i krig (at war)
4. Fixed Phrases
Used in common expressions like i dag (today), i morgen (tomorrow), and i aften (tonight).
Examples (6)
- Jeg bor i en lille lejlighed i Aarhus.
I live in a small apartment in Aarhus.
Word by Word: I live in a small apartment in Aarhus.
This shows 'i' used for both a physical container (apartment) and a city (Aarhus).
- Vi har boet i Danmark i fem år.
We have lived in Denmark for five years.
Word by Word: We have lived in Denmark for five years.
The first 'i' marks the country, and the second 'i' marks the duration (for five years).
- Jeg var i Grønland sidste sommer.
I was in Greenland last summer.
Word by Word: I was in Greenland in summer-last.
I Grønland is the established geographical expression. Sidste sommer identifies the previous summer without the informal i sommers form.
- Han er i Japan i to uger.
He is in Japan for two weeks.
Word by Word: He is in Japan in two weeks.
Japan is an island nation but takes 'i'. The second 'i' indicates the duration of the stay.
- Jeg venter i ti minutter.
I am waiting for ten minutes.
Word by Word: I wait in ten minutes.
When used with a time span, 'i' expresses duration (how long).
- Hun er i tvivl om svaret.
She is in doubt about the answer.
Word by Word: She is in doubt about answer-the.
'i tvivl' (in doubt) is a common expression for a state of mind.
Common Mistakes
Using 'i' for specific islands like Iceland or the Faroes.
Jeg bor i Island.Jeg bor på Island.Danish uses på for many islands and island nations, such as Iceland, the Faroes, Cuba and the Philippines. A few island nations take 'i', such as Japan and Great Britain.
Using 'i' to mean 'in [time] from now'.
Different MeaningJeg kommer i ti minutter.Jeg kommer om ti minutter.'Jeg kommer i ti minutter' is a good sentence, but it means 'I am coming for ten minutes' (a length of time). To say 'in ten minutes' from now, use om.
Confusing 'i' and 'om' for seasons.
Jeg rejser altid i sommeren.Jeg rejser altid om sommeren.Use om for recurring seasons (every summer). Use i for a specific season, with context showing whether it is recent, current or upcoming.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use the preposition 'i' correctly, you need to understand how to ask about locations using 'hvor' and how Danish nouns are categorized by gender (en/et), as 'i' often precedes nouns denoting places, months, or time periods.
- hvorWhere
The preposition 'i' is primarily used to answer 'hvor' (where) questions regarding location.
Level 1 - enIndefinite Article (Common Gender)
Understanding indefinite articles is necessary because 'i' is frequently used with nouns in their indefinite or definite forms to indicate being inside a place.
Level 1 - etIndefinite Article (Neuter)
Understanding neuter gender articles is necessary for correctly using 'i' with neuter nouns representing locations.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- påOn / at
The primary alternative to 'i' for locations; used for islands, surfaces, and specific institutions.
Level 1 - omAbout / in (Time) (Om)
Used instead of 'i' for future time points ('in ten minutes') and habitual times ('in the summer').
Level 1 - tilTo
Used for movement toward a destination, whereas 'i' is for being static at a location.
Level 1 - Months
Months of the year always use the preposition 'i' (e.g., i maj).
Level 1 - i dag/i morgen/i gårToday / Tomorrow / Yesterday
Related fixed time expressions using 'i' to refer to the current day/evening.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice i in Bubblegum
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