dette

Dette is a demonstrative word found in Danish and Norwegian that means "this" when referring to a neuter noun. In Danish, dette functions as a demonstrative determiner and pronoun and is used with neuter nouns, as in dette hus (this house). In Norwegian Bokmål, dette similarly marks a neuter singular reference and is common at the start of sentences, for example Dette er interessant (This is interesting). In both languages, other demonstratives are used for different grammatical genders or emphases, with forms such as denne for common gender in Norwegian and variations in Danish depending on the noun class. The word often appears at the beginning of statements and questions in everyday and formal use.

Linguistically, dette belongs to the set of Germanic demonstratives that developed in the Scandinavian languages from Old Norse and Old Danish roots. It is primarily a function word, not a content-bearing lexeme, and its meaning relies on context and noun gender. Outside of Scandinavian languages, dette is rarely used as a general term; it may appear as a surname or as part of proper names, but it does not have a separate established meaning in other languages.

In usage guidance, the form this is chosen to align with the grammatical gender of the noun it modifies or references. Writers and speakers choose dette for neuter nouns and adjust with alternative forms like denne for common gender or related demonstratives in the surrounding language. Overall, dette remains a core demonstrative in Danish and Norwegian, with limited cross-language use.