Spejlet hænger i gangen, og det reflekterer lyset fra køkkenet.

The mirror hangs in the hallway, and it reflects the light from the kitchen.

Breakdown of Spejlet hænger i gangen, og det reflekterer lyset fra køkkenet.

• og: and
• i: in
• fra: from
• det: it
• køkkenet: the kitchen
• spejlet: the mirror
• hænge: to hang
• gangen: the hallway
• reflektere: to reflect
• lyset: the light

Questions & Answers about Spejlet hænger i gangen, og det reflekterer lyset fra køkkenet.

Why do we say Spejlet (definite form) instead of just et spejl?

In Danish, nouns can be expressed in the definite form by adding a suffix (in this case -et). Spejlet means "the mirror," whereas et spejl means "a mirror." Since the sentence is referring to a specific mirror, the definite form is used.

What does i gangen literally mean, and why not use på gangen?

In Danish, i gangen means "in the hallway." The preposition i indicates that something is inside or within an enclosed or defined space. På gangen could sometimes be heard colloquially, but generally i gangen is more standard for indicating it’s hanging in the hallway.

How do you pronounce spejlet?

It’s pronounced somewhat like "SPAYL-eth" in Danish. The j in Danish often sounds like a soft "y," and the -et at the end can sound like a light, unstressed syllable.

Why is det used instead of den for referring to the mirror in the second part of the sentence?

The pronoun must match the grammatical gender (common gender or neuter) of the noun. Spejl is a neuter noun (et spejl), so the pronoun used is det. With a common-gender noun (en-noun), you would typically use den.

Is it common in Danish to use og to connect two separate statements like in this sentence?

Yes, og (meaning "and") is frequently used to connect actions or statements in Danish. It works much like "and" in English, linking two clauses—here, hanging the mirror and reflecting the light—in one fluid sentence.