VERB

besitzen/bəˈzɪt͡sn̩/to own; to possess; to have

besitzen is a German verb that means to own, to possess, or to have. It is pronounced /bəˈzɪt͡sn̩/. In conjugation, the simple past is "besaß" and the past participle is "besessen".

Definitions

1.to own something, to have legal possession of something(ownership)

a.to be the legal owner of (something)

Sie besitzen ein Haus am See.They own a house by the lake.

2.to possess (qualities, abilities, skills)(intangible qualities/abilities)

a.to have or be endowed with a quality, characteristic, or ability

Er besitzt viel Geduld.He possesses a lot of patience.

Conjugation

Infinitivebesitzen
Present (ich)besitze
Present (du)besitzt
Present (er/sie/es)besitzt
Preterite (ich)besaß
Participle IIbesessen
Konjunktiv II (ich)besäße
Imperative (singular)besitze
Imperative (plural)besitzt
Auxiliaryhaben

Frequently asked questions

What does "besitzen" mean in English?
"besitzen" means to own, to possess, or to have. It is a German verb.
How do you pronounce "besitzen"?
"besitzen" is pronounced /bəˈzɪt͡sn̩/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
What is the past participle of "besitzen"?
The past participle (Partizip II) of "besitzen" is "besessen", used with the auxiliary "haben".
What is the simple past of "besitzen"?
In the simple past (Präteritum), "besitzen" becomes "besaß" in the first person singular.
What part of speech is "besitzen"?
"besitzen" is a verb in German.

Related verbs

Learn German faster with Alexandria flashcards

Build your German vocabulary with focused flashcard study in the Alexandria app.