Translation of German word "stehen" to English
stehen
/ˈʃteːən/
Meaning
VerbTo position or be positioned physically: To support oneself on the feet in an erect position.
How to use
The strong verb stehen ('to stand / be situated') is intransitive and expresses a static location, requiring the dative case for position (Das Auto steht in der Garage). It conjugates: steht, stand, hat/ist gestanden (Southern German/Austrian uses sein as auxiliary). It contrasts with the transitive, action verb stellen ('to place standing', requires accusative).
🇬🇧 English
to stand
Example
Ich stehe auf der Bühne und rede vor der Menge.
I stand on the stage and speak to the crowd.
Die Frau steht auf der Treppe und wartet auf mich.
The woman stands on the stairs and waits for me.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- zur Verfügung stehen— to be available / at disposal
- unter Druck stehen— to be under pressure / stress
- Das steht dir gut.— That suits you well. / Looks good on you (clothing, requires dative)
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "stehen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich habe gestanden
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #170 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "stehen"?▼
The German word "stehen" is defined as: "To position or be positioned physically: To support oneself on the feet in an erect position."
What does the German word "stehen" mean?▼
The German word "stehen" means "to stand" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "stehen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "stehen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "stehen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Ich stehe auf der Straße und warte auf den Bus." (which translates as "I stand on the stage and speak to the crowd.").
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