Language/Danish/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Danish learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the Danish plural forms. Understanding pluralization is essential to mastering the Danish language. You will need it to form sentences, express amount, and even ask for directions. Therefore, I made this guide as simple and informative as possible to help you get started.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Danish Grammar → Introduction to Danish Alphabet and ..., Conditional Mood, Cardinal Numbers in Danish & Prepositions.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In Danish, words change their forms to indicate singular or plural. The plural form is usually formed by adding "-ene", "-erne", "-er", "-s", "-de", or "-te" to the singular form. However, some words may have irregular plural forms.
To improve your Danish Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Rules[edit | edit source]
Let's start with some rules on plural formation:
Adding -ene[edit | edit source]
Nouns ending with "d", "t", "s", or "x" typically take "-ene" to form the plural.
| Danish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Brodene | [ˈb̥ʁoðənə] | Bread |
| Bornene | [ˈboːɐ̯nənə] | Children |
| Dageene | [ˈdæːjənə] | Days |
| Flødebollerne | [ˈfløːðəb̥oləʁnə] | Marshmallows |
Adding -er and -erne[edit | edit source]
Most Danish nouns take "-er" or "-erne" to form the plural.
| Danish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Æble | [ˈɛplə] | Apple |
| Æbler | [ˈɛblɐ] | Apples |
| Kage | [ˈkʰɑːə] | Cake |
| Kagerne | [ˈkʰɑːənə] | Cakes |
Adding -s[edit | edit source]
Some nouns borrowed from foreign languages may add "-s" to form the plural.
| Danish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz | [kʰwiːs] | Quiz |
| Quizzen | [ˈkʰwiːsən] | Quizzes |
| Hotel | [hoˈtɛl] | Hotel |
| Hoteller | [hoˈtɛlɐ] | Hotels |
Irregular Plurals[edit | edit source]
There are some words that don't follow the usual conventions. They have irregular plurals that you need to memorize:
| Danish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Barn | [baːn] | Child |
| Børn | [b̥ɶɐ̯n] | Children |
| Fod | [f̥ʌð̞ˀ] | Foot |
| Fødder | [ˈføð̞ˀɐ] | Feet |
| Mus | [mus] | Mouse |
| Mus | [myːs] | Mice |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Hej, jeg købte fem æbler på torvet. ([Hi, I bought five apples at the market.])
- Person 2: Fem æbler?! Vil du lave en æbletærte? ([Five apples?! Are you going to make an apple pie?])
- Person 1: Ja! Med flødeskum på toppen! ([Yes! With whipped cream on top!])
Fun Facts[edit | edit source]
- The Danish language has nine vowels and fourteen consonants. - Denmark is the first country to legalize same-sex unions.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Learning Danish plurals might seem challenging at first, but with constant practice and repetition, you'll get the hang of it. Don't forget to use the internal link Danish and external link Polyglot Club to help you along the way. Remember to keep practicing since every form of language learning is like a game, and practice makes perfect. 😊
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Danish grammar - Wikipedia
- The Plural Plurals of Danish | Danish Language Blog
- How is the plural formed in Danish? - Quora
Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: Danish Grammar: Intermediate Grammar: Adjective Comparison, Danish Grammar: Modal Verbs, Negation & Pronunciation Basics.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Danish Plural, Nouns & Articles | With Popular Expressions - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Nouns
- Indefinite Articles in Danish
- How to Use Be
- How to Use Have
- Present Tense
- How to use “to speak” in Danish
- The Inclusive Case in Danish
- Future Tense
- Cardinal Numbers in Danish
- Questions