Jeg har ingen kontanter i dag, så jeg må finde en anden løsning.

I have no cash today, so I have to find another solution.

Breakdown of Jeg har ingen kontanter i dag, så jeg må finde en anden løsning.

• jeg: I
• have: to have
• så: so
• i dag: today
• finde: to find
• måtte: to have to
• løsningen: the solution
• en anden: another
• kontanterne: the cash
• ingen: no

Questions & Answers about Jeg har ingen kontanter i dag, så jeg må finde en anden løsning.

Why does it say ingen kontanter instead of ikke nogen kontanter?

Both are possible and mean essentially the same thing: no cash.

• ingen kontanter is a common, compact way to say no/none with a noun.
• ikke nogen kontanter is a bit more “spelled out” and can feel slightly more emphatic or careful.

In everyday Danish, ingen + noun is very common: Jeg har ingen tid, Der er ingen problemer.

Is kontanter always plural? Can I say en kontant?

In this meaning (cash / cash money), Danish normally uses kontanter as a plural-only concept in practice. You typically say:

• kontanter, kontant betaling (cash payment), kontant (as an adverb: pay cash)

En kontant exists, but it does not mean “a cash”; it’s used in other meanings (e.g., “a blunt/straightforward person/remark” depending on context). For money, stick with kontanter.

What’s the difference between Jeg har ingen kontanter and Jeg har ikke kontanter?

Jeg har ingen kontanter is the natural way to say I have no cash at all.
Jeg har ikke kontanter is grammatically possible, but it often sounds incomplete without something added, for example:

• Jeg har ikke kontanter på mig (I don’t have cash on me)
• Jeg har ikke kontanter lige nu (I don’t have cash right now)

So ingen works especially well for “none.”

Why is the time phrase i dag placed where it is? Could it move?

Yes, i dag can move, and the choice affects emphasis:

• Jeg har ingen kontanter i dag = neutral: “today” as extra info
• I dag har jeg ingen kontanter = more emphasis on today (contrast with other days)
• Jeg har i dag ingen kontanter = also possible, a bit more formal/marked

Danish word order is flexible, but the “fronted” version (I dag …) gives it extra focus.

What does så do here, and why is there a comma before it?

Here så means so / therefore, connecting two clauses:
I have no cash today, so I must find another solution.

A comma is used because it separates two clauses (each with its own subject + verb):

• Jeg har …,
• så jeg må …

In standard Danish punctuation, that comma is expected in this structure.

Why is the word order så jeg må finde… and not så må jeg finde…?

Both can be correct, but they are slightly different structures:

1) …, så jeg må finde …
Here så introduces a clause with normal clause order: subject (jeg) + verb (må).

2) …, så må jeg finde …
Here så is more like a sentence adverb placed first, triggering V2 word order in the clause (the finite verb comes second): så + må + jeg …. This version can feel a bit more “spoken” or more like “well then/so then.”

Your sentence uses the very common “so + clause” pattern.

What exactly does må mean here? Is it “must” or “may”?

In this context må means must / have to (necessity):

• Jeg må finde en anden løsning = “I have to find another solution.”

Må can also mean “may / be allowed to” depending on context:

• Må jeg komme ind? = “May I come in?”

Context decides which meaning is intended.

Why is there no at before finde?

After modal verbs (like kan, skal, vil, må, bør), Danish normally uses the bare infinitive without at:

• jeg må finde (not jeg må at finde)
• jeg kan betale, jeg skal gå

So finde is the infinitive governed by the modal må.

Why is it en anden løsning and not et andet løsning?

Because løsning is common gender (en-words): en løsning.
The adjective anden has to agree with the gender/number:

• en anden løsning (common gender singular)
• et andet problem (neuter singular)
• andre løsninger (plural)

So anden matches en løsning.

Does anden mean “second” or “different/another” here?

Here en anden means another / a different solution.

Anden can sometimes relate to “the other (one)” or “second” in certain set patterns, but in everyday sentences like this, it’s the normal way to say “another/different.”

Is løsning the best word for “solution” in Danish, or are there alternatives?

Løsning is the standard, most direct word for “solution.” Depending on context, you could also use:

• en anden måde (another way)
• en anden mulighed (another option/possibility)
• en anden udvej (another way out; more dramatic)

But en anden løsning is perfectly idiomatic.

How would a Dane naturally shorten or rephrase the sentence in conversation?

Common natural variants include:

• Jeg har ikke kontanter i dag, så jeg må finde en anden løsning. (also common)
• Jeg har ingen kontanter på mig, så jeg må finde en anden løsning. (very idiomatic: “on me”)
• Jeg har ikke cash i dag, så jeg må finde en anden løsning. (loanword cash is often heard)

Your original sentence already sounds natural.

How is this sentence pronounced (rough guide), especially jeg, ingen, and finde?

A rough pronunciation guide (varies by region):

• Jeg often sounds like yai or a very soft j sound (not like English “j”). In fast speech it can be reduced a lot.
• ingen: the g is usually not a hard “g”; many speakers pronounce it with a “soft” sound or almost drop it: something like ing-en.
• finde: the d is “soft” (a Danish soft d), not like a clear English d. Many learners first approximate it as fin-deh, but the d is more like a soft tongue position.

If you want, I can write an IPA version in a specific accent (e.g., Copenhagen/Standard).