Dutch Verb 'zitten' ('to sit, be sitting, be seated') - Smartphones Page

Zitten ('to sit, be sitting, be seated') is a strong verb:

zitten to sit

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zat sat

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gezeten sat

overview
zitten		to sit
ik zit		I'm sitting
wij zitten		we're sitting
ik zat		I sat
wij zaten		we sat
ik heb gezeten		I have sat
2

The verb stem zit already ends in T, so no second T is added to second and third person singular:

simple present tense
zitten		to sit, be sitting
ik zit		I'm sitting
jij zit		you're sitting (singular, informal you)
hij zit		he's sitting
wij zitten		we're sitting
jullie zitten		you are sitting (plural, informal you)
zij zitten		they're sitting
U zit		you are sitting (polite you)

Like most strong verbs with an A in the past tense, that A is short in the singular, but long in the plural

simple past tense
ik zat		I sat
jij zat		you sat
hij zat		he sat
wij zaten		we sat
jullie zaten		y'all sat
zij zaten		they sat
U zat		you sat

present perfect tense
ik heb gezeten	I have sat

A slang meaning of 'zitten' is 'to be in prison,' so 'ik heb gezeten' may also mean 'I've been in prison.'

'Zitten' is also used to indicate an ongoing activity in the Dutch continuous, like for instance in:
We zitten te eten. [We're eating] - We're having [food] dinner (or lunch) In the perfect tense of the continuous, the verb infinitive is used, not the past participle:
ik heb zitten ... 2 3  I was, I have been ...
We hebben zitten luisteren 2 3 We were listening See the continuous page: 1 2 for more examples.

Sample Sentences

even zitten! 2 I'm going to sit down (and relax) for a moment

ga zitten 2 [go sit] - take a seat

Ga er even bij zitten 2 3 Do sit down (for it) for a moment Ga d'r even bij zitten 2 3 4 5 Do sit down (for it) for a moment

Misschien kunnen we wel buiten zitten 2 Maybe we can sit outside

't Vogeltje zit op z'n nestje 2 The (little) bird is sitting on its (little) nest 't Vogeltje zit zo zoet op z'n nestje The (little) bird is sitting on its (little) nest so sweetly

We zaten aan 't ontbijt We were at breakfast, we were having breakfast

blijven zitten 2 literally, to stay seated, stay put, but also the specific meaning: repeat a grade in school, not advancing to the next grade ‑>> Dan kan ik blijven zitten 2 3 Then I can stay seated, remain in my chair
Dan hoef ik niet op te staan 2 3 4 Then I don't have to get up Ik ben in de vierde klas blijven zitten 2 3 I had to repeat 4th grade, I failed to pass to 5th grade (the first time)

Translated by Other Words

Er zit een muis op zolder 2 3 There's a mouse in the attic

Er zit een gat in 't dak 2 There's a hole in the roof

Hij zit in de tweede klas 2 He's in second grade

Ze zit in een rolstoel 2 3 She's in a wheelchair

Ik zit in de trein 2 3 4 I'm on a train

Hij zat in de nor He was in prison (slang)

Ik zat een uur bij de tandarts 2 3 I was at the dentist for an hour Ik heb een uur bij de tandarts gezeten 2 I've [sat] been at the dentists's for an hour ('in the chair')

Ik zit op de tocht 2 3 I'm in a draft (an unpleasant, cold air flow)

De wind is gaan liggen, maar we zitten nog steeds in het water The wind has died down, but we're still [in the water] flooded

Als de R in de maand zit 2 When there is an R in the (name of) the month (time for the daily spoonful of cod liver oil:
(de) levertraan 2)

Daar zit wat in 2 3
Er zit wat in 2 3 4 5 literally: there's something in it, it contains something - or figuratively: there's something to it, there's a good idea in it, there's some truth in it Misschien zit er wat in 2 3 Maybe it contains something // Maybe there is something to it

Brood, daar zit wat in 2 'Bread, there's something (good?) in it' - not entirely successful slogan

Er zit geen brood in [There is no bread in it] - There's not much money to be made with it, you can't make a living from it Er zit geen schot in 2 There is no progress, it is stuck

Wat zit er in m'n keel? [What's in my throat?] - What's wrong with my throat?

't Zit er niet in 2 3 4 It's not going to happen

Er zit een luchtje aan 2 [There's a bad smell to it] - It's fishy

Er zit niks anders op 2 3 There is nothing else that can be done, there is just one thing to be done

Hij zit in de bijstand 2 He is on welfare, he is on the dole Hij zit in 't leger 2 3 He is in the army but: Hij is bij de marine 2 He's in the navy

Laat maar zitten 2 3 'Let it be' - don't bother, it doesn't matter (also said when tipping, like 'keep the change')

Maar wij zitten met de gebakken peren 2 3 (saying) [But we are left with the baked pears] - It's us, we are the ones who have to pick up the pieces, deal with the mess others made

'n Ongeluk zit in een klein hoekje (saying) ['An accident sits in a small corner'] - Accidents can happen anywhere and unexpectedly

't Zit als gegoten 'It fits like it's cast' - said of well-fitting clothes

Als je haar maar goed zit! 2 3 [If only your hair 'sits well'] - The most important thing is that your hair looks OK

in de weg 2 'in de way' - usually making access difficult or impossible, but also said of people blocking plans or schemes in de weg zitten 2 3 to be in the way 't Zit in de weg 2 3 4 It's in the way Ik wil je niet in de weg zitten 2 3 I don't want to be in your way Dan zit ik je niet in de weg 2 Then I'm not in your way

't Zit erop 2 3 4 ~the job is done, finished (it could also mean that you attached something 'on top' somewhere, like a bike seat)

'Lopen' 2 'to walk' sometimes has similar 'to be' etc. translations as 'zitten' ‑>>

Ik zit in 't gips 2 [I'm in plaster] - I have a cast

meezitten 2 3 4
tegenzitten 2 3 4y
(meaning explained in examples below)

(Wanneer is 't klaar? 2 3
When [is] will it be ready?)

Als 't meezit ... 2 If things go well, if we're lucky ... Als 't meezit is 't morgen klaar If things go well it will be ready tomorrow

Als 't tegenzit ... 2 if it doesn't go well, if we're not lucky, if things don't work out ... Als 't tegenzit kan 't nog wel een week duren If things don't work out, it may take a week

't Zit mee 2 3 It's going well 't Zit tegen 2 3 It's not going well 't Zit ons niet mee 2 3 It's not going well, we're having a lot of trouble, luck seems against us

stilzitten 2 3 'to sit still' - immobile or idle

Hij zit aan de grond 2 3 ['he sits, is at the ground' - 'he's stuck at the lowest level'] - 'he's down and out' - out of options because no money

Hij zit in de problemen 2 3 [He sits in problems] He's in trouble

Ik zag 't niet meer zitten I didn't see a future (depressed)

Je zit in een sleur 2 3 You're in a rut (a hard to change pattern of bad habits)

(het) bezit (het) eigendom	property
(de) voorzitter 2	chairman
(de) zitkamer	[sitting] living room ‑>>
(het) zitje 2	1. an arrangement of a few chairs, maybe with a small table 2. a child seat on a bike
(de) stoel stoelen	chair chairs ->>

(de) zitting 1. seat (of chair) 2. session, meeting of official body Zullen we de zitting opheffen? 2 'Shall we terminate the session?' - bureaucratic phrase, but usually said in jest to suggest getting up after a meal (het) bezittelijk voornaamwoord 2 possessive pronoun ‑>> Het bezit van de zaak is het eind van het vermaak 2 3 'Ownership is the end of pleasure' - probably meaning that working towards goals is the interesting part; having reached goals boredom may set in

A Dutch Continuous
zitten - liggen - staan - lopen

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