Translation of German word "setzen" to English
setzen
/ˈzɛtsn̩/
Meaning
VerbTo be in a position in which the upper body is upright and supported by the buttocks.
How to use
The weak verb setzen ('to seat / set / place / sit down') is transitive and expresses movement/direction, requiring the accusative case (answers 'where to?' / wohin?, e.g., Ich setze das Kind auf den Stuhl — I seat the child on the chair). Conjugation: setzt, setzte, hat gesetzt. It is contrasted with the static intransitive verb sitzen ('to sit / be seated', requires dative, e.g., Das Kind sitzt auf dem Stuhl). The reflexive sich setzen is the extremely common way to say 'to sit down / take a seat' (Setzen Sie sich! — Please sit down!). Note: the source translation is 'садить', which is a colloquial Russian word for 'сажать'.
🇬🇧 English
to sit
Example
Nach einem langen Wandertag tat es gut, einfach nur zu sitzen und zu entspannen.
After a long day of hiking, it felt good to just sit and relax.
Du bist mit der Suppe fertig, wenn du den ganzen Abend regungslos dasitzt!
You're done with soup if you sit motionless all evening!
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- sich setzen— to sit down / take a seat (requires reflexive)
- unter Druck setzen— to put pressure on / pressurize (requires accusative for the person)
- in Bewegung setzen— to set in motion / start (perfective)
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "setzen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/ habe gesetzt
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #201 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "setzen"?▼
The German word "setzen" is defined as: "To be in a position in which the upper body is upright and supported by the buttocks."
What does the German word "setzen" mean?▼
The German word "setzen" means "to sit" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "setzen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "setzen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "setzen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Setzen Sie sich auf den Stuhl." (which translates as "After a long day of hiking, it felt good to just sit and relax.").
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