din/dit/dine
Your (Singular)
din (common gender), dit (neuter gender), or dine (plural) = your (singular possessor).
How It Works
The Danish possessive pronouns din, dit, and dine all translate to 'your' in English. However, unlike English, you must choose the correct form based on the noun that follows:
- din: Used with common gender (en-words) singular nouns. Example: din bil (your car).
- dit: Used with neuter gender (et-words) singular nouns. Example: dit hus (your house).
- dine: Used with all plural nouns, regardless of their gender. Example: dine bøger (your books).
Important Note: These forms are strictly for a singular possessor (addressing one person). If you are speaking to two or more people, you must use jeres instead.
Unlike English, Danish does not have a separate word for 'yours' (e.g., 'The book is yours'). You simply use the same form: Bogen er din.
Examples (4)
- Hvor er din nøgle?
Where is your key?
Word by Word: Where is your key?
'Nøgle' is a common gender noun (en nøgle), so we use 'din'.
- Jeg kan godt lide dit nye ur.
I like your new watch.
Word by Word: I can well like your new watch.
'Ur' is a neuter noun (et ur), so we use 'dit'.
- Er det her dine handsker?
Are these your gloves?
Word by Word: Are that here your gloves?
'Handsker' is plural, so we use 'dine' regardless of the original gender.
- Bilen er din.
The car is yours.
Word by Word: The car is your.
Danish uses the same form 'din' for both 'your' and 'yours'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'din' for neuter (et-words) nouns.
Hvor er din hus?Hvor er dit hus?Since 'hus' is a neuter noun (et hus), you must use 'dit' instead of 'din'.
Using 'din' when speaking to several people about something they share.
Different MeaningHej børn, hvor er din mor?Hej børn, hvor er jeres mor?'Din' is only for one person. When you speak to a group about something they share, such as their mother, use 'jeres'. 'Hej børn, hvor er din mor?' is fine if you ask one child about that child's mother.
Adding an -s to make it 'yours'.
Den her kop er dins.Den her kop er din.English speakers often try to add an -s (like 'yours'), but in Danish, the form does not change when it stands alone.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'din/dit/dine' correctly, you must understand that Danish nouns have genders (common and neuter) and that possessive pronouns must agree with these genders in the singular, or take a plural form ('dine') regardless of gender.
- Informal Address With Du
The possessive 'din/dit/dine' is the possessive form of the informal singular subject pronoun 'du'.
Level 1 - min/mit/mineMy
Learning the first-person possessive pattern establishes the grammatical logic of how Danish possessive adjectives change based on the number and gender of the noun.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- vores/jeres/deresOur / Your (Plural) / Their
Contains 'jeres', which is the plural 'your' used when addressing more than one person.
Level 1 - sin/sit/sineReflexive Possessive (Sin/sit/sine)
The reflexive possessive used for 'his/her/its own', often confused with 'din' by beginners.
Level 2 - Noun Gender
Understanding common and neuter gender is essential to choosing between 'din' and 'dit'.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice din/dit/dine in Bubblegum
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