den här/det här

This (Proximal Demonstrative)

Level 1

Use den här for 'en' nouns and det här for 'ett' nouns to mean 'this'.

How It Works

In Swedish, when you want to say 'this' to point out a specific singular noun, you use either den här or det här. The one you choose depends on the noun's gender.

Rule 1: den här for en-words
Use den här for common gender nouns (en-words).

  • en bok (a book) → den här boken (this book)
  • en stol (a chair) → den här stolen (this chair)

Rule 2: det här for ett-words
Use det här for neuter gender nouns (ett-words).

  • ett hus (a house) → det här huset (this house)
  • ett äpple (an apple) → det här äpplet (this apple)

Notice that the ordinary common noun following den här or det här takes its definite form (e.g., boken, huset). This is a concept called double determination, which is very common in Swedish.

The expression can stand alone when the noun is understood: Jag tar den här (I will take this one). Det här can also refer broadly to a situation: Det här är svårt (This is difficult). With an adjective before an ordinary noun, use its definite form: den här gamla boken, det här gamla huset. A time expression such as den här veckan refers to the current week, not physical nearness.

Examples (4)

  1. Den här boken är intressant.

    This book is interesting.

    Word by Word: This here book-the is interesting.

  2. Det här huset är gammalt.

    This house is old.

    Word by Word: This here house-the is old.

  3. Jag gillar den här filmen.

    I like this movie.

    Word by Word: I like this here movie-the.

  4. Vad kostar det här bordet?

    What does this table cost?

    Word by Word: What costs this here table-the?

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to use the definite form of the noun.

    Jag vill ha den här tröja.
    Jag vill ha den här tröjan.

    In den här tröjan, the common noun takes its definite form tröjan. This is the standard demonstrative-plus-noun pattern taught here.

  • Using the wrong gender form (den vs. det).

    Det här stolen är min.
    Den här stolen är min.

    Stol is an 'en'-word (en stol), so you must use den här, not det här.

How It Connects

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

den här/det härLevel 1This (Proximal Demonstrative)

Learn This First

To use 'den här' and 'det här' correctly, you need to know the gender of the noun to choose the correct pronoun, understand how to form the definite singular of nouns, and recognize the spatial marker 'här'.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

denden