German word

besiedeln

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈziːdl̩n/

Meaning

  • verbsettle

Example

Pioniere besiedelten das neue Land.

Pioneers settled the new land.

Illustration for besiedeln (settle)

More examples

Kleine Inseln wurden nie dauerhaft besiedelt.

Small islands were never permanently settled.

Core concept

Settlers establish lasting homes across a stretch of land until it becomes inhabited.

Common phrases

  • ein Gebiet besiedeln

    settle an area

  • das Land besiedeln

    settle the land

Similar words

siedeln: Take up permanent residence in a new place.
ansiedeln: Resettle people or businesses in a region for the long term.
einwandern: Immigrate to a country or region from another place.
kolonisieren: Conquer a distant land, establish a colony, and rule it politically.

Definition in German

jemanden oder etwas an einem Ort dauerhaft wohnen lassen

Word origin

The verb is built from be- and siedeln, the verb related to Siedler and Siedlung; the prefix gives it a transitive sense.

Usage tips

  • Besiedeln is inseparable, so its perfect form is hat besiedelt rather than a form with a separated prefix.

Other meanings

  • colonizeverb

Opposites

  • entvölkerndepopulateverb

Related words

  • Besiedlungsettlementnoun
  • Besiedlersettlernoun
  • besiedeltsettledadjective

Word lists with this word