vores/jeres/deres
Our / Your (Plural) / Their
Use vores (our), jeres (your - plural), and deres (their) to show ownership. These words never change, regardless of the noun's gender or number.
How It Works
In Danish, the possessive pronouns for plural subjects are very straightforward because they do not decline.
1. The Three Forms:
- vores: Our / Ours (1st person plural)
- jeres: Your / Yours (2nd person plural - used when talking to a group)
- deres: Their / Theirs (3rd person plural)
2. Invariance:
You use the exact same form whether the noun is common gender (en), neuter gender (et), or plural. For example:
- vores bil (our car - common)
- vores hus (our house - neuter)
- vores børn (our children - plural)
3. Placement:
These words can function as adjectives (before the noun) or as standalone pronouns (e.g., 'The car is ours').
4. Formal Usage:
You might see Deres (capitalized) in very formal contexts to mean 'your' (singular or plural). However, in modern Danish, this is extremely rare and usually replaced by din or jeres.
Examples (5)
- Hvor er vores nøgler?
Where are our keys?
Word by Word: Where are our keys?
'Vores' is used here with a plural noun ('nøgler').
- Jeg kan godt lide jeres nye lejlighed.
I really like your new apartment.
Word by Word: I can well like your new apartment.
'Jeres' is used when speaking to more than one person.
- De har solgt deres hus.
They have sold their house.
Word by Word: They have sold their house.
'Deres' refers to 'their' and does not change for the neuter noun 'hus'.
- Er det jeres bil? Nej, det er vores.
Is that your car? No, it is ours.
Word by Word: Is it your car? No, it is ours.
This shows 'vores' acting as a standalone pronoun ('ours').
- Børnene leger med deres legetøj.
The children are playing with their toys.
Word by Word: The children play with their toy.
In Danish, 'deres' is used for 'their own' when the subject is plural.
Common Mistakes
Adding a -t for neuter nouns.
Det er voret hus.Det er vores hus.Learners often try to follow the pattern of 'mit/dit' by adding a 't', but 'vores' is invariant and never changes.
Using 'jeres' when you ask only one person.
Different MeaningHvad er jeres navn?Hvad er dit navn?'Jeres' is strictly plural. If you are talking to only one person, you must use 'din' or 'dit'.
Using 'sine' with a plural subject.
De elsker sine børn.De elsker deres børn.In standard Danish, a plural subject (they) takes 'deres'. 'Sine' with a plural subject is heard more and more in speech, but it is not yet the standard form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'vores', 'jeres', and 'deres', you first need to be familiar with the plural subject pronouns (we, you, they) that they correspond to. It is also helpful to have encountered singular possessive pronouns (like 'min') to understand how possession is expressed, even though these plural forms are simpler because they do not change based on the noun's gender or number.
- vi/I/deSubject Pronouns Plural
Understanding the plural subject pronouns is essential as 'vores', 'jeres', and 'deres' are the possessive forms of 'vi', 'I', and 'de'.
Level 1 - min/mit/mineMy
Learning the first-person possessive pronouns introduces the concept of possession in Danish, providing a functional foundation for other possessive forms.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- din/dit/dineYour (Singular)
The singular equivalent for 'your', used when addressing only one person.
Level 1 - hans/hendesHis / Her
The 3rd person singular possessives ('his'/'her'), which are also invariant like 'vores/jeres/deres'.
Level 1 - sin/sit/sineReflexive Possessive (Sin/sit/sine)
The reflexive possessive used for singular subjects; contrast this with 'deres' which is used for both reflexive and non-reflexive plural subjects.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice vores/jeres/deres in Bubblegum
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