mér / þér / honum / henni

Dative Pronouns

Level 1

mér me · þér you · honum him · henni her · því it · okkur us · ykkur you all · þeim them (all genders).

How It Works

The forms

  • ég → mér, þú → þér
  • hann → honum, hún → henni, það → því
  • við → okkur, þið → ykkur (the same as the accusative)
  • þeir, þær, þau → þeim (one form for all genders)

Three places you need them

  • After certain verbs: hjálpa (help), þakka (thank), svara (answer), and the receiver with gefa (give) or segja (tell): Ég gaf henni blóm.
  • After certain prepositions: með (with), frá (from), hjá (at someone's place), af (of, off): Komdu með mér. Ég bý hjá þeim. See The Dative.
  • As the person who feels or thinks: mér finnst (I think), mér líður vel (I feel good), mér er kalt (I am cold). See Subjects in the Dative or Accusative.

þér is not formal
The þér in Hvernig líður þér? is simply the dative of þú. It is the same word you use with friends. See Þú for Everyone.

Examples (6)

  1. Komdu með mér.

    Come with me.

    Word by Word: Come-you with me.

    með takes the dative here.

  2. Hvernig líður þér?

    How are you feeling?

    Word by Word: How feels you?

    líða puts the person in the dative.

  3. Geturðu hjálpað mér?

    Can you help me?

    Word by Word: Can-you helped me?

    hjálpa always takes the dative.

  4. Ég gaf henni blóm.

    I gave her flowers.

    Word by Word: I gave her flowers.

    henni is the receiver, so it is in the dative. blóm is what was given.

  5. Mér finnst þetta gott.

    I think this is good.

    Word by Word: To-me finds this good.

    The person with the opinion is in the dative: mér, not ég.

  6. Ég bý hjá þeim.

    I live with them.

    Word by Word: I live at them.

    hjá takes the dative, and þeim is the form for every gender.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative with hjálpa.

    Ég hjálpa hana.
    Ég hjálpa henni.

    hjálpa always takes the dative, so hún becomes henni, not hana.

  • Using ég with finnst.

    Ég finnst þetta gott.
    Mér finnst þetta gott.

    With finnst, the person who has the opinion is in the dative: mér.

  • Using þá after a preposition that takes the dative.

    Ég bý hjá þá.
    Ég bý hjá þeim.

    hjá takes the dative, and the dative of they is þeim for every gender.

How It Connects

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

mér / þér / honum / henniLevel 1Dative Pronouns

Learn This First

Dative pronouns come after the accusative ones.

Words in This Pattern

mérhonumhenniþeimþvíokkurykkur