German Conversation · Level 144
30 words
German word
versetzen
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈzɛt͡sən/
Meaning
- verbtransfer
Example
Die Firma versetzt ihn nächste Woche in eine andere Abteilung.
The company is transferring him to another department next week.
More examples
Er wartete vergeblich; sein Verabredungspartner hatte ihn versetzt.
He waited in vain; the person he was meeting stood him up.
Core concept
A worker leaves one assigned place and appears in another, with the same movement also applying to a changed role or a strong reaction.
Common phrases
innerhalb der Firma versetzen
transfer within the company
in die neue Filiale versetzen
transfer to the new branch
Similar words
befördern: Someone is given a higher position and broader responsibilities.
überstellen: Someone is officially moved to work for another department or institution.
abordnen: Someone is sent to another department or site for a limited period.
degradieren: Someone is placed in a lower position with fewer responsibilities.
Definition in German
jemanden innerhalb einer Organisation an eine andere Stelle oder in eine andere Funktion versetzen
Word origin
The verb is formed from setzen, 'to place', with the prefix ver- marking a change or displacement, and its concrete sense of placing elsewhere extends to organizational and figurative uses.
Usage tips
- With a destination, versetzen takes an accusative person and usually in plus accusative, as in ihn in eine andere Abteilung versetzen.
Other meanings
- promoteverb
- stand upverb
Opposites
- behaltenretainverb
Related words
- Versetzungtransfernoun
- versetzttransferredadjective
- Versetzungsanordnungtransfer ordernoun