"The man drinks a beer."

Translation: Manden drikker en øl.

[andreabelenj]

I have trouble remembering when is "en øl" and when is it "et øl".
What's the difference? Tak!

[mads-elh]

It is never "et øl", but there is a difference, I'll try to explain it.
"En øl" and the definite form "øllen" means "a can/bottle of beer". When someone asks you "Vil du have en øl?" they mean a can or a bottle, like in this sentence.

EDIT: I see you're only at level 3, so the below is probably a little too advanced for you yet. I'll leave it just in case, but you only need to know right now that it is "en øl" :)

However, beer as a substance is uncountable, just like water or money; "one money" isn't correct, for example, it becomes "some money". Like with beer, "et øl" does not exist, but would rather be "noget øl". - some beer. Therefore, "øllet" is the definite form when talking about beer as a substance.

To illustrate the difference: "Øllen faldt på gulvet" - "the beer fell on the floor" means that the entire bottle or can fell on the floor, while "øllet faldt på gulvet" - same translation, means that only some of the substance itself fell on the floor, for example if you spilled a few drops.

Hope that clears it up (and doesn't cause any additional confusion)

[raorn]

In swedish language both ett öl and en öl are possible (as we as with kaffe). Ett öl means a glass/can/cup of beer, while en öl is a kind of beer, lager, tuborg, etc. Is danish language differs much here?

[andreabelenj]

Great! Now it's clear :)

[Indra927477]

Hej, so it would be also possible at manden drikker et øl? Like he in general drinks beer (as a substance)? (Maybe instead of water-hahah.)

[amgeleff]

No, no such thing as "et øl".

[Nightmare81054]

That can be possible ( i think at least)

[Nina427151]

Tusind tak! Det hjælper meget :D

[Markus_MF]

When is it "mand" and when "manden"?

[MonsieurRollo]

I believe it's the difference between 'man' and 'the man'

[doinita541854]

Et øl er et øl, never ølen eller en øl