þer

øer is the Danish word for islands, i.e., landmasses surrounded by water. It is the plural form of ø, the Danish term for an island. The definite plural is øerne, and the definite singular is øen. The word derives from Old Norse ey, a cognate of Norwegian øy and Swedish ö; all descend from a Proto-Germanic root meaning island.

In geography, the Danish landscape includes a large number of øer, especially along the coasts of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Among the largest and best known are Zealand (Sjælland), Funen (Fyn), Lolland, Falster, Møn, and Bornholm. Denmark also contains numerous smaller øer, many linked by bridges or ferries. The Danish realm additionally includes the Faroe Islands, which Danish refers to as Færøerne, a distinct autonomous territory.

In use, øer appears in everyday Danish to refer to any island, including in place names and travel writing. The term has cognates in other Scandinavian languages (Norwegian øy/øy, Swedish ö), reflecting shared historical roots.