Translation of German word "setzen" to English
setzen
/ˈzɛtsn̩/
Meaning
VerbTo put, place, or set something down (often into a sitting position); used reflexively (sich setzen), it means to sit down or take a seat.
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 put, set (down); (reflexive sich setzen) to sit down
Example
Nach der langen Wanderung setzte ich mich sofort auf die Bank.
After the long hike, I immediately sat down on the bench.
Die Gärtnerin setzt die jungen Pflanzen in die Erde.
The gardener plants the young plants in the soil.
Your personal vocabulary
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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)
More Core Verbs words
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 put, place, or set something down (often into a sitting position); used reflexively (sich setzen), it means to sit down or take a seat."
What does the German word "setzen" mean?▼
The German word "setzen" means "to put, set (down); (reflexive sich setzen) to sit down" 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: "Nach der langen Wanderung setzte ich mich sofort auf die Bank." (which translates as "After the long hike, I immediately sat down on the bench.").
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