Translation of German word "liegen" to English
liegen
/liːɡn̩/
Meaning
VerbTo rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
How to use
The strong verb liegen ('to lie / be situated horizontally') is intransitive and denotes static position, requiring the dative case (answers wo? / where, e.g., Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch — The book lies on the table). Conjugation: liegt, lag, hat/ist gelegen (Southern German/Austrian uses sein as auxiliary). It contrasts with the transitive action verb legen ('to lay flat', requires accusative).
🇬🇧 English
to lie
Example
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch; der Schnee liegt auf dem Dach; er liegt in seinem Sarg.
The book is on the table; the snow is on the roof; he lies in his coffin.
Unter einer Eiche schliefen zwei Hirten.
Two shepherds were sleeping under an oak tree.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- liegen an— to be due to / be caused by (requires preposition 'an' + dative, e.g. 'es liegt an dir' — it's up to you / your fault)
- im Sterben liegen— to be on one's deathbed / dying
- auf dem Bett liegen— to lie on the bed (dative location)
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "liegen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich habe gelegen
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #283 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "liegen"?▼
The German word "liegen" is defined as: "To rest in a horizontal position on a surface."
What does the German word "liegen" mean?▼
The German word "liegen" means "to lie" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "liegen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "liegen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "liegen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Ich liege im Bett." (which translates as "The book is on the table; the snow is on the roof; he lies in his coffin.").
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