Dalene er stille om aftenen, når vi er på ferie i bjergene.

The valleys are quiet in the evening when we are on vacation in the mountains.

Breakdown of Dalene er stille om aftenen, når vi er på ferie i bjergene.

• i: in
• være: to be
• på: on
• når: when

Questions & Answers about Dalene er stille om aftenen, når vi er på ferie i bjergene.

What exactly does Dalene mean, and why does it end in -ene?

Dalene means “the valleys” (or “the dales”).

In Danish, the definite article (“the”) is usually a suffix on the noun, not a separate word:

• en dal – a valley
• dalen – the valley
• dale – valleys
• dalene – the valleys

So the ending -ene here marks definite plural: dal + e (plural) + ne (the) → dalene = the valleys.

What about bjergene – how is that formed, and is it the same pattern as Dalene?

Yes, bjergene follows the same basic pattern:

• et bjerg – a mountain
• bjerget – the mountain
• bjerge – mountains
• bjergene – the mountains

Again, -e marks the plural (bjerge) and -ne makes it definite plural (bjergene = the mountains).

So in the sentence:

• Dalene = the valleys
• i bjergene = in the mountains

Why isn’t there a separate word for “the” before and , like in English?