Why “She” Can Be Confusing in Luxembourgish
This is a topic I want to talk about because in my Luxembourgish coaching sessions I frequently hear my students hesitating whether they should say si or hatt when talking about a woman or a girl.
Now a question to you:
Do you know when you should say in Luxembourgish si or hatt. Because both si and hatt translate into she (and her –depending on the verb used in the sentence).
Not really? What is the difference? Are you also thinking:
How will I ever get this right?
First of all, and especially at the beginning of your language learning journey, it is normal to make mistakes. And I will help you to understand this subject in a very easy way:
When do we use hatt?
hatt (casual) is used when talking about:
- a woman we know well, or
- a girl who is relatively young, or
- your own daughter, or
- a young female of your family.
Let’s look at some examples.
Example 1: A woman we know well
- D’Laura geet muer an d’Vakanz. Hatt flitt op New York. – Laura is going on holiday tomorrow. She will fly to New York.
Example 2: Your daughter
- Mäi Meedchen geet samschdes an d’Schwämm. Hatt schwëmmt gär. – My daughter goes to the swimming pool on Saturdays. She likes to swim.
Example 3: A young woman we know
- Hues du dem Tom seng nei Frëndin gesinn? Hatt ass immens léif. – Have you seen Tom’s new girlfriend? She is very nice.
When do we use si?
si (formal) conveys a certain respect and is used when talking about:
- a woman who is famous, or
- a woman who is older than you (your mother for instance), or
- a woman who has a position of power (the CEO of a company, for example).
Let’s look at some examples:
Example 1: A famous woman
- D’Angela Merkel kënnt muer op Lëtzebuerg. Si trëfft sech mam Xavier Bettel. – A. Merkel is coming to Luxembourg tomorrow. She will meet with X. Bettel.
Example 2: Your grandmother
- Meng Bomi ass gëschter gefall. Si huet sech d’Hand gebrach. – My grandma fell yesterday. She broke her hand.
Example 3: Your boss
- Meng Cheffin huet de Moien e Rendez-vous mat engem neie Client. Si ass ganz nervös. – My boss has an appointment with a new client this morning. She is very nervous.
So, what's the rule?
The basic rule:
hatt → more familiar / casual
si → more respectful / formal
It may take a little practice before this feels natural, but don’t worry if you don’t get it right immediately.
Want to build your Luxembourgish from the ground up?
If you’re just starting to learn Luxembourgish, these little details can sometimes feel confusing.
That’s why I created my A1 Foundation Course: to help beginners build a solid foundation in Luxembourgish, understand the language step by step, and gain the confidence to actually use it in everyday situations.
If you’re at the beginning of your Luxembourgish journey, this course is the perfect place to start.
