jeg/du/han/hun

Subject Pronouns Singular

Level 1

Danish uses jeg (I), du (you), han (he), hun (she), den (it - common), and det (it - neuter) to represent the person or thing doing the action.

How It Works

In Danish, singular subject pronouns are essential for identifying who is performing an action, as verbs do not change their endings for different persons:

  • jeg (I): Not capitalized unless it starts a sentence. Stressed jeg is commonly [jɑj], with a final glide, while unstressed speech often reduces it to [jɑ]. Neither has a hard g.
  • du (you): Used for one person in informal settings.
  • De (you): A formal version that is always capitalized to distinguish it from de (they). It is uncommon in everyday interaction but remains in some formal, traditional or service contexts, depending on the speaker and setting; it is not restricted to royalty.
  • han (he) / hun (she): Used for people, and also animals such as pets when their sex is known and relevant.
  • den (it): Replaces common gender (en-words) like en stol (a chair).
  • det (it): Replaces neuter gender (et-words) like et hus (a house). The 't' is silent.

Note that Danish follows the V2 rule: while the pronoun usually comes first, it must move after the verb if the sentence starts with an adverb or time expression (e.g., Nu taler jeg - Now I am speaking / 'Now speak I').

Dummy Det: In Det regner and Det er sent, det fills the subject slot without referring back to a neuter noun. Identification also uses det: Det er en stol. General Man: Man lærer af sine fejl means one/people learn from their mistakes. Man makes a general statement without identifying a particular person; it is not the same as addressing someone with du.

Examples (6)

  1. Jeg taler dansk.

    I speak Danish.

    Word by Word: I speak Danish.

    'jeg' is the first-person singular pronoun. Unlike the English 'I', it is not capitalized unless it starts a sentence.

  2. Du bor i København.

    You live in Copenhagen.

    Word by Word: You live in Copenhagen.

    'Du' is the informal singular 'you' used in almost all social situations.

  3. Hvor er bogen? Den ligger på bordet.

    Where is the book? It is lying on the table.

    Word by Word: Where is book-the? It lies on table-the.

    Since 'bog' (book) is a common gender noun (en bog), we use 'den' to say 'it'.

  4. Huset er stort. Det er hvidt.

    The house is big. It is white.

    Word by Word: House-the is big. It is white.

    Since 'hus' (house) is a neuter gender noun (et hus), we use 'det' to say 'it'.

  5. Han er min bror, og hun er min søster.

    He is my brother, and she is my sister.

    Word by Word: He is my brother, and she is my sister.

    'Han' and 'hun' are used for male and female humans respectively.

  6. Det regner i dag.

    It is raining today.

    Word by Word: It rains in day.

    'Det' is used as a dummy subject for weather and impersonal statements.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'det' for all inanimate objects.

    Hvor er bilen? Det er her.
    Hvor er bilen? Den er her.

    Because 'bil' (car) is an 'en'-word (en bil), you must use 'den' instead of 'det'.

  • Using 'den' for weather expressions.

    Den blæser meget.
    Det blæser meget.

    Impersonal 'it' (weather, time, etc.) always uses 'det', regardless of other nouns.

  • Pronouncing the 'g' in 'jeg' or the 't' in 'det'.

    Jeg [jeg] / Det [det]
    Jeg [jɑj] or reduced [jɑ] / Det [de]

    Jeg has no hard g: a stressed form commonly has a final glide [jɑj], while an unstressed form can be [jɑ]. Det normally has no hard t. Avoid treating the written letters as English sounds.

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jeg/du/han/hunLevel 1Subject Pronouns Singular

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duhanhun