German word

besitzen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈzɪt͡sn̩/

Meaning

  • verbown

Example

Wir besitzen kein Auto.

We don't own a car.

Illustration for besitzen (own)

More examples

Ich besitze ein Haus auf dem Land.

I own a house in the country.

Core concept

An object stays within a person's sphere of control as something held as property.

Common phrases

  • besitzen ein Auto

    own a car

  • besitzen ein Haus

    own a house

Similar words

haben: Having something in one's possession or available at hand.
gehören: Being the property of a person or group.

Definition in German

Über eine Sache verfügen und darüber bestimmen können; ein Eigentumsverhältnis ausdrücken.

Word origin

Besitzen comes from Middle High German besitzen and Old High German bisizzan, formed with be- and sitzen, and was linked to occupying or sitting on something.

Usage tips

  • Besitzen is a strong verb with the past forms besaß and hat besessen, so its stem changes outside the present tense.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word