wann s de
The S After Conjunctions with Du
In a subordinate clause with du or de as the subject, add a separate s before the pronoun: wann s de, datt s du, ob s de.
How It Works
Luxembourgish has a little word that only shows up when you talk to someone as du. In a subordinate clause whose subject is du or its short form de, an s goes between the word that opens the clause and the pronoun:
- after a conjunction: wann s de Zäit hues (if you have time), datt s du Recht hues (that you are right), ob s de kënns (whether you are coming), well s de midd bass (because you are tired), ier s de gees (before you go)
- after a question word in an indirect question: Ech weess net, wou s de wunns. (I don't know where you live.)
- after a relative pronoun: de Kuch, deen s de gebak hues (the cake that you baked)
The verb still goes to the end, as in every subordinate clause: Wann s de Zäit hues, ruff mech un.
How to write it. The official spelling of 2019 writes the s as a separate word, with no apostrophe and not joined to the word before: wann s de, not wanns de or wann's de. Words like wann and deen keep their n before this s.
When there is no s.
- If the word before already ends in s, ss, x or z, no extra s is written: dass de kënns (dass is another spelling of datt).
- If the subject is not du: wann de Bus kënnt (when the bus comes). Here de is the article, and the missing s tells you so.
- In a main clause or a direct question: Hues de Zäit? (Do you have time?)
If you speak to someone politely as Dir, there is no s: wann Dir Zäit hutt. For the short form de, see unstressed pronouns.
Examples (6)
- Wann s de Zäit hues, ruff mech un.
If you have time, give me a call.
The s stands between wann and de.
- Weess de schonn, ob s de den Owend mat an de Kino gees?
Do you know yet whether you are coming to the cinema with us tonight?
After ob, the s comes before de. The first part, Weess de, is a main clause, so it has no s.
- Ech weess, datt s du Recht hues.
I know that you are right.
The s also comes before the full form du.
- Du kriss, wat s de wëlls.
You get what you want.
Wat opens the clause, so the s follows it.
- Wou ass de Kuch, deen s de gebak hues?
Where is the cake that you baked?
The s also follows a relative pronoun like deen.
- Ruff mech un, ier s de kënns.
Call me before you come.
Ier opens the clause, and the verb kënns goes to the end.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the s.
Wann de Zäit hues, ruff mech un.Wann s de Zäit hues, ruff mech un.In a subordinate clause with du or de as the subject, the s is needed. Without it, wann de looks like wann with the article de.
Joining the s to the word before.
Wanns de Zäit hues, ruff mech un.Wann s de Zäit hues, ruff mech un.The official spelling writes the s as a separate word, with no apostrophe.
Adding the s in a main clause.
Hues s de Zäit?Hues de Zäit?The s only comes after a conjunction, a question word that starts a subordinate clause, or a relative pronoun. A direct question has no s.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before The S After Conjunctions With Du, learn If and When: Wann and Short Unstressed Pronouns.
Related Patterns
- The Verb at the End of Subordinate Clauses
The s appears in exactly these clauses, where the verb goes to the end.
Level 2 - dattThat: Datt
Datt s de works the same way: Ech weess, datt s de Recht hues.
Level 2 - obWhether: Ob
Ob s de introduces an indirect yes or no question to du.
Level 2 - Relative deen / déi / datRelative Clauses with Deen, Déi and Dat
Relative pronouns also take the s before du or de.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice wann s de in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Luxembourgish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
