lille/små

Small (Lille/små)

Level 2

Danish uses lille for one small thing (before the noun) and små for multiple things. For inanimate neuter nouns after a verb, the form småt is used.

How It Works

The adjective lille is highly irregular. To become proficient in using it, you must distinguish between its position and the type of noun:

  • Attributive (Before the noun): Use lille for both common and neuter singular nouns.
    Example: en lille bil, et lille hus.
  • Definite Singular: Unlike other adjectives that add -e, lille is unique and remains lille for both genders.
    Example: den lille hund, det lille barn.
  • Predicative (After the verb): Use lille for common gender and for living beings of the neuter gender. Use småt only for inanimate neuter objects.
    Example: Bilen er lille, Barnet er lille, but Huset er småt.
  • Plural (All forms): The form always changes to små for all genders, whether indefinite, definite, or after a verb.
    Example: små huse, de små huse, husene er små.

Examples (6)

  1. Jeg har en lille hund.

    I have a small dog.

    Word by Word: I have a small dog.

    Here 'lille' is used attributively with a common gender noun (en hund).

  2. Vi bor i et lille hus.

    We live in a small house.

    Word by Word: We live in a small house.

    When placed before the noun (attributive), 'lille' is used for both common and neuter nouns.

  3. Huset er småt.

    The house is small.

    Word by Word: The house is small.

    When the adjective comes after the verb (predicative), neuter nouns use the form 'småt'.

  4. Der er mange små butikker i byen.

    There are many small shops in the city.

    Word by Word: There are many small shops in the city.

    When the noun is plural (butikker), the form changes to 'små'.

  5. De små børn leger.

    The small children are playing.

    Word by Word: The small children play.

    'Små' is used for all plural forms, including the definite plural.

  6. Det er småt med mad.

    Food is scarce (literally: It is small with food).

    Word by Word: It is small with food.

    'Småt' is also used in impersonal expressions with 'det er'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'småt' for living beings in the neuter gender.

    Barnet er småt.
    Barnet er lille.

    While inanimate neuter objects use 'småt' after a verb, living beings like et barn (a child) or et føl (a foal) always use 'lille' in the predicative position.

  • Adding a '-t' to 'lille' before a neuter noun.

    Jeg har et lillet hus.
    Jeg har et lille hus.

    Learners often try to follow the standard rule for neuter adjectives, but 'lillet' does not exist. Use 'lille' before the noun regardless of gender.

  • Using 'lille' for plural nouns.

    To lille katte.
    To små katte.

    You must switch to the plural form 'små' when describing more than one thing, whether it is plural -er or plural -e.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

lille/småLevel 2Small (Lille/små)

Learn This First

To understand 'lille/små', you need to be familiar with how Danish adjectives usually change for gender and number. This pattern is unique because 'lille' does not take the usual '-t' ending in the neuter singular, and it uses a completely different word ('små') for the plural instead of just adding '-e'.

Words in This Pattern

lille