Questions & Answers about Jeg har hovedpine.
Why is there no word for "a" before hovedpine?
In Danish, you typically drop the indefinite article (en or et) when talking about having a general ache or illness. You literally just say "I have headache".
How is the word hovedpine put together?
It is a compound word made of hoved (head) and pine (pain or ache). Many medical symptoms are built this way, combining a body part with a word for pain.
Can I say "Jeg har ondt i hovedet" instead?
Yes, absolutely! Jeg har ondt i hovedet (literally "I have bad in the head") is actually much more common in everyday spoken Danish than Jeg har hovedpine. Both expressions mean exactly the same thing.
If I add an adjective, do I still leave out the article?
No, if you describe the headache, you usually bring the article back. Hovedpine is an en-word, so you would say something like Jeg har en slem hovedpine (I have a bad headache).
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