hvor (relativt adverbium)

Where (Relative Adverb) (Hvor)

Level 3

In Danish, 'hvor' isn't just for questions. It acts as a bridge (a relative adverb) to describe a specific place or time mentioned earlier in the sentence.

How It Works

The relative adverb hvor is used to provide additional information about a noun that denotes a location or a point in time.

1. Function:
It replaces a prepositional phrase. For example, instead of saying 'The house, I live in the house' (Huset, jeg bor i huset), you say 'The house where I live' (Huset, hvor jeg bor). It effectively combines the preposition and the relative pronoun into one word.

2. Usage with Time:
Danish frequently uses hvor for time, where English might use 'when'. For example: 'The year where (when) we lived in Rome' (Året, hvor vi boede i Rom). However, when referring to a specific, single event in the past, Danish often uses da instead (e.g., 'Dengang da jeg var barn').

3. Word Order:
This is the most important rule: hvor introduces a subordinate clause. This means that sentence adverbs like ikke (not) or aldrig (never) must come before the verb.

  • Main clause: Jeg bor ikke her.
  • Relative clause: Det er huset, hvor jeg ikke bor.

4. Register:
Using hvor is very common in both spoken and written Danish. It is a concise alternative to using som with a preposition at the end of the sentence (e.g., 'Huset, som jeg bor i'). Both forms are correct and standard.

Examples (4)

  1. Det er den restaurant, hvor vi spiste i går.

    That is the restaurant where we ate yesterday.

    Word by Word: That is the restaurant, where we ate in yesterday.

    'hvor' refers back to 'restaurant' (a place).

  2. Jeg glemmer aldrig det år, hvor vi boede i Rom.

    I will never forget the year when we lived in Rome.

    Word by Word: I forget never that year, where we lived in Rome.

    In Danish, 'hvor' is the standard relative adverb for time nouns like 'år' (year).

  3. Vi leder efter et sted, hvor man må have hund.

    We are looking for a place where one is allowed to have a dog.

    Word by Word: We look after a place, where one may have dog.

    'hvor' connects the description of the rules to the noun 'sted' (place).

  4. Det er en by, hvor jeg ikke har lyst til at bo.

    It is a city where I do not feel like living.

    Word by Word: It is a city, where I not have desire to to live.

    Notice how 'ikke' comes before the verb 'har' because 'hvor' starts a subordinate clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using main clause word order (V2) after 'hvor'.

    Det er byen, hvor bor jeg.
    Det er byen, hvor jeg bor.

    In a relative clause starting with 'hvor', the subject must come before the verb.

  • Placing 'ikke' after the verb in the relative clause.

    Jeg kender et sted, hvor man kan ikke ryge.
    Jeg kender et sted, hvor man ikke kan ryge.

    In subordinate clauses, sentence adverbs like ikke must be placed before the finite verb.

  • Using 'hvornår' instead of 'hvor' for relative time.

    Den dag, hvornår vi mødtes...
    Den dag, hvor vi mødtes...

    'hvornår' is only for questions. When describing a noun like 'dag', use 'hvor'.

How It Connects

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

hvor (relativt adverbium)Level 3Where (Relative Adverb) (Hvor)

Learn This First

To use 'hvor' as a relative adverb, you must first be familiar with its use in questions and understand the general structure of Danish relative clauses. Since relative clauses follow subordinate clause word order, learning that syntax is also necessary.

Words in This Pattern

hvor