German word

besteigen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈʃtaɪ̯gn̩/

Meaning

  • verbclimb

Example

Ich habe den Berg bestiegen.

I climbed the mountain.

Illustration for besteigen (climb)

More examples

Sie musste die Leiter besteigen, um aufs Dach zu gelangen.

She had to climb the ladder to get to the roof.

Core concept

A climber reaches the upper surface of a horse, vehicle, or mountain and takes a position there.

Common phrases

  • den Berg besteigen

    climb the mountain

  • ein Schiff besteigen

    board a ship

Similar words

einsteigen: Go inside a vehicle or building through its entrance.
erklimmen: Make a strenuous climb up a steep place to reach its summit.
steigen: Go upward by walking or stepping.
hinaufsteigen: Move upward from a lower point to a higher one.

Definition in German

Auf ein Tier, ein Fahrzeug oder eine Anhöhe klettern, um sich auf dessen Rücken oder Plattform zu setzen.

Word origin

Besteigen combines the inherited Germanic verb steigen, meaning to rise or climb, with the be- prefix that forms a transitive verb directed at an object.

Usage tips

  • Besteigen takes an accusative object, as in den Berg, ein Pferd, or ein Schiff, rather than a dative object.

Other meanings

  • mountverb
  • summitverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Besteigungascentnoun
  • besteigbarclimbableadjective

Word lists with this word