den/det
It (Den/det)
In Danish, 'it' is translated as either den or det. The choice usually follows the grammatical gender when referring back to a particular thing. Identification and impersonal uses commonly take det.
How It Works
Unlike English, which uses 'it' for almost all objects, Danish requires you to remember the noun's gender.
1. The Gender Rule
- Use den for common gender nouns. Example: stolen (the chair) → den.
- Use det for neuter gender nouns. Example: bordet (the table) → det.
2. The Plural Form
Regardless of the original gender, the plural pronoun changes based on its role in the sentence:
3. The 'Dummy' Subject and Abstract Ideas
Two important uses of det do not refer back to a noun with a particular gender:
- Weather/Impersonal: Det regner (It is raining).
- Referring to a whole idea: When referring back to a sentence or an action, use det. Example: Jeg ved det ikke (I don't know it/that).
4. Demonstrative Use
These same words can mean 'that' if you emphasize them while speaking. For example, Jeg vil have den (stressed) means 'I want that one'.
5. Definite Articles
When an adjective comes before a noun, den and det act as the definite article ('the'). Note that in this case, you do not add the definite suffix to the noun.
Subject And Object: Singular forms stay the same: Den er her → Jeg ser den; Det er her → Jeg ser det. Only the plural changes from de to dem. Identifying Something: Det er en stol (It is a chair), Det er et bord (It is a table), and Det er Peter identify what or who something is. This identifying det does not agree with the following noun; after a chair has been introduced, refer back with den.
Examples (6)
- Hvor er min kop? Den er i køkkenet.
Where is my cup? It is in the kitchen.
Word by Word: Where is my cup? It is in kitchen-the.
'Kop' is a common-gender noun (en kop), so we use 'den' to refer to it.
- Jeg har et æble. Det er rødt.
I have an apple. It is red.
Word by Word: I have an apple. It is red.
'Æble' is a neuter-gender noun (et æble), so we use 'det' to refer to it.
- Det er koldt i dag.
It is cold today.
Word by Word: It is cold in day.
This is an impersonal 'it' (weather), so 'det' is always used.
- Hvor er bilen? Jeg kan ikke se den.
Where is the car? I cannot see it.
Word by Word: Where is car-the? I can not see it.
'Bil' is common gender (en bil), so 'den' is used as the object.
- Hvor er mine nøgler? De ligger på bordet.
Where are my keys? They are on the table.
Word by Word: Where are my keys? They lie on table-the.
When referring to plural nouns as the subject, both 'den' and 'det' become 'de' (they).
- Jeg har dine bøger. Jeg læser dem nu.
I have your books. I am reading them now.
Word by Word: I have your books. I read them now.
When referring to plural nouns as the object, use 'dem' (them).
Common Mistakes
Using 'det' as a universal word for 'it'.
Hvor er bogen? Det er her.Hvor er bogen? Den er her.English speakers often default to 'det' for everything, but since 'bog' (book) is an 'en-word', you must use 'den'.
Using 'den' or 'det' for people.
Hvor er Peter? Den er i haven.Hvor er Peter? Han er i haven.Use the person's personal pronoun when referring back to Peter, here han. This is not an absolute ban on den/det with human reference: det is used in identification (Det er Peter), and det can refer back to barnet. Den omits the expected personal reference in this example.
Using 'den' for weather because of a related noun.
Den blæser meget.Det blæser meget.Even though 'blæst' (wind) is common gender, impersonal weather expressions always use the dummy subject 'det'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'den' and 'det' correctly, you must first understand that every Danish noun has a gender (common or neuter). You also need to be familiar with the basic system of subject pronouns, as 'den' and 'det' serve as the third-person singular pronouns for non-human objects.
- Noun Gender
Understanding that Danish nouns are divided into common and neuter genders is essential because the choice between 'den' and 'det' depends entirely on the gender of the noun being replaced.
Level 1 - jeg/du/han/hunSubject Pronouns Singular
The pattern 'den/det' functions as part of the third-person singular subject pronoun system, so understanding basic subject pronouns is a necessary functional foundation.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- enIndefinite Article (Common Gender)
Nouns introduced with 'en' are replaced by 'den'.
Level 1 - etIndefinite Article (Neuter)
Nouns introduced with 'et' are replaced by 'det'.
Level 1 - den/det/de + AdjectiveDefinite with an Adjective
Den and det also function as definite articles when an adjective is present.
Level 2 - det erIt Is (Det Er)
Explains the specific use of 'det' as a dummy subject in 'it is' constructions.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- den her/det herThis (Den Her/det Her)Level 1
- mig/dig/ham/hendeObject Pronouns SingularLevel 1
- Weather ExpressionsLevel 1
- den/det/deThat / Those (Stressed Den/det/de)Level 3
- Left DislocationLevel 4
- Nominalized Infinitive (det at)Level 4
- Right DislocationLevel 4
- Subject Omission In SpeechLevel 5
And 1 more in the full list.
Words in This Pattern
Practice den/det in Bubblegum
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