hei / do
Here and There: Hei and Do
Hei = here, do = there: Ech sinn hei. D'Buch läit do.
How It Works
Here and there
- Ech sinn hei! (I’m here!)
- D'Buch läit do. (The book is lying there.)
- Hei zu Lëtzebuerg – here in Luxembourg.
Like any other element, hei or do can take first place, and then the verb follows: Hei ass et kal.
Pointing at things
Put hei or do after a noun with the stressed article deen, déi or dat:
- deen Auto hei – this car here
- dee Mann do – that man there (deen becomes dee before M by the n-rule)
- déi Fra do, dat Haus hei
- dat hei – this, dat do – that
The article still follows the gender of the noun: masculine deen, feminine and plural déi, neuter dat.
Do sinn: to be present
Bass du muer och do? means Will you be there tomorrow too?, and Ass de Paul do? asks whether Paul is around.
For stronger pointing, see deen heiten and dat doten.
Examples (6)
- Ech sinn hei!
I’m here!
Word by Word: I am here!
- D'Buch läit do.
The book is lying there.
Word by Word: The book lies there.
- Dee Mann do ass mäi Papp.
That man there is my dad.
Word by Word: That man there is my dad.
Deen loses its n before the M of Mann.
- Deen Auto hei gefält mir.
I like this car here.
Word by Word: This car here pleases me.
Deen keeps its n before the vowel A.
- Bass du muer och do?
Will you be there tomorrow too?
Word by Word: Are you tomorrow also there?
Do sinn means to be present.
- Hei zu Lëtzebuerg schwätze vill Leit dräi Sproochen.
Here in Luxembourg many people speak three languages.
Word by Word: Here in Luxembourg speak many people three languages.
Hei zu Lëtzebuerg is in first place, so the verb comes next.
Common Mistakes
Using the wrong stressed article before a masculine noun.
Dat Mann do ass mäi Papp.Dee Mann do ass mäi Papp.Mann is masculine, so the stressed article is deen, written dee before M. Dat is only for neuter nouns.
Leaving out et after hei or do.
Hei ass kal.Hei ass et kal.Hei is only a place word. The sentence still needs the subject et, which comes after the verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Here and There: Hei and Do, learn Where and Where To: Wou and Wuer.
Related Patterns
- deen / déi / dat (That One)That One: Deen, Déi and Dat
Stressed articles combine with hei and do to point at things.
Level 2 - deen heiten / dat dotenThis One Here, That One There
Heiten and doten point even more strongly.
Level 4 - heem / doheemHome: Heem and Doheem
Heem and doheem are other place words that need no preposition.
Level 1 - do- + PrepositionIt with Prepositions: Domat, Dofir, Dorop
Do also joins prepositions, as in dorop and domat.
Level 3 - The Verb Comes Second
When hei or do comes first, the verb follows immediately.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice hei / do in Bubblegum
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