A1 Danish GrammarPossessive Adjectives
Express ownership in Danish with possessive adjectives like min (my), din (your), hans (his), and hendes (her). Learn how possessives agree with the noun's gender (common/neuter) and number, essential for talking about belongings, family, and relationships.
1First and Second Person Possessives
Danish possessive adjectives change form based on the gender and number of the noun they describe. 'Min/mit/mine' (my) and 'din/dit/dine' (your singular) have three forms: common gender singular, neuter singular, and plural. The possessive agrees with the possessed item, not the owner.
My and Your (singular)
| Person | Common | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| I/my | min | mit | mine |
| you/your (sg.) | din | dit | dine |
| we/our | vores | vores | vores |
| you/your (pl.) | jeres | jeres | jeres |
Examples
Min bil er rød.
My car is red.
'min' with common gender noun 'bil'
Mit hus er stort.
My house is big.
'mit' with neuter noun 'hus'
Dine børn er søde.
Your children are sweet.
'dine' with plural noun 'børn'
Vores familie bor i Danmark.
Our family lives in Denmark.
'vores' same for all genders
2Third Person Possessives
Third person possessives in Danish are simpler: 'hans' (his), 'hendes' (her), and 'deres' (their) don't change form. They stay the same regardless of the gender or number of the noun. Note: 'sin/sit/sine' is reflexive (refers back to subject).
Third Person Possessives
| Person | Danish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| his | hans | hans bil (his car) |
| her | hendes | hendes hus (her house) |
| its | dens/dets | dens farve (its color) |
| their | deres | deres børn (their children) |
Examples
Hans mor er lærer.
His mother is a teacher.
'hans' doesn't change form
Hendes arbejde er interessant.
Her work is interesting.
'hendes' with neuter 'arbejde'
Deres hund hedder Max.
Their dog is called Max.
'deres' for plural owners
Jeg kan lide hendes sko.
I like her shoes.
'hendes' with plural 'sko'
3Reflexive Possessives (sin/sit/sine)
Danish uses 'sin/sit/sine' when the possessor is the subject of the sentence. This is different from English. 'Sin' (common), 'sit' (neuter), 'sine' (plural) refer back to a third-person subject. Use 'hans/hendes' when the owner is NOT the subject.
Reflexive vs. Non-reflexive
| Type | Common | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflexive | sin | sit | sine |
| Non-reflexive (m) | hans | hans | hans |
| Non-reflexive (f) | hendes | hendes | hendes |
| Non-reflexive (pl) | deres | deres | deres |
Examples
Han elsker sin kone.
He loves his (own) wife.
'sin' = his own (subject is he)
Hun læser sin bog.
She reads her (own) book.
'sin' refers to subject 'hun'
Peter tager sit tøj.
Peter takes his (own) clothes.
'sit' with neuter noun 'tøj'
De elsker sine børn.
They love their (own) children.
'sine' with plural 'børn'
4Common Phrases with Possessives
Possessives appear frequently in everyday Danish expressions about family, body parts, and belongings. Remember: possessives come before the noun and must match the noun's gender. Family terms are especially common in conversation.
Common Possessive Phrases
| Danish | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| min far/mor | my father/mother | family terms |
| dit navn | your name | neuter noun |
| vores hjem | our home | neuter noun |
| Hvad er din adresse? | What is your address? | question form |
Examples
Hvad hedder din bror?
What is your brother's name?
'din' with common noun 'bror'
Mit hovede gør ondt.
My head hurts.
'mit' with neuter 'hovede'
Jeg kan ikke finde mine nøgler.
I cannot find my keys.
'mine' with plural 'nøgler'
Er det dit barn?
Is that your child?
'dit' with neuter 'barn'