If you want to learn how to say sit in German, it's a fairly easy word to remember. The word "sit" can be used in a variety of ways, though, and mastering German pronunciation requires some practice and knowledge.
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
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Master the word for sit. In German, the verb for sit is “sitzen.” [1] X Research source
- The verb is pronounced “zitss-ihn.” ['zıtsn] [2] X Research source [3] X Research source Put the emphasis on the first syllabus in the word.
- The German verb for sit down is “sich setzen” (zeek zeh-tsihn) [zıç 'zÉ›tsn]. If you want to tell someone to sit, though, the quickest way to do that is to say, "sitz!" (pronounced as zihtss). Be aware this could be perceived as impolite!
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Master some common phrases using the word sit. You will want to learn a few sentences that contain the word for sitting. Some people want to use German when commanding certain breeds of dogs to sit. You may, instead, need to speak German to a person!
- To say sit down, say “setz dich” (zehts deekh) ['zÉ›ts dıç]. This differs from the verb itself because it's conjugated with dich, which means you. [4] X Research source
- “Bitte setzen Sie sich“ is a formal way of saying “Please take a seat“ (bit-tah zeh-tsihn zee zeekh). The ch is pronounced uniquely in German. It’s best to listen to it. Some have described it as sounding like an angry cat sound! It's a bit like a "kah" sound in English, but more gutteral. [5] X Research source
- “Ich sitze“ means “I am sitting“ (“eekh ziht-tsah”). Again, listen to the German version of –ch.
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Use past tense for the word sit. Perhaps you want to say that you sat, not that you’re sitting. The past tense version of the verb “sitzen“ is “saß“. Pronounce “saß“ “sahss.” The "a" sound is similar to the "o" in the English word bond. The German letter "ß" (“eszett“ or “sharp s“) is used to represent the sound of a double "s" in certain contexts.
- Ich saß (I sat).
- Du saßest/saßt (you sat, informal).
- Er saß (he sat).
- Wir saßen (we sat).
- Ihr saßt (you sat, plural).
- Sie saßen (they sat; you sat, formal).
- You can find detailed charts online for other tenses of the verb to sit, including the past perfect, future I and future II versions of the verb. For example, “I have sat“ is “Ich habe gesessen” in German (pronounced eek hah-bah gih-seh-ssihn). [6] X Research source [7] X Research source
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Pronouncing German Words
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Hold your mouth correctly. When pronouncing German words, try to hold your mouth fairly tightly shut when talking. This is how native Germans speak. [8] X Research source
- Germans have visible tension in their mouth and pull their lips to the side when they pronounce words. Sometimes non-native speakers of German will hold their mouths too slack, especially their lower lips.
- Too loose of a lower lip, and you will not sound German. You will look like you’re chewing gum, and your accent will be obvious!
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Pronounce consonants correctly in German. When saying sit in German, it’s important that you understand that an “s” in German doesn’t sound like an English “s.” [9] X Research source
- When the letter “s” appears in front of a vowel, you need to pronounce the German consonant “s” like you would pronounce the English “z.” Thus, the “s” at the start of the word “sitzen” should be pronounced like an English “z.” [10] X Research source
- The German sound “z” is not voiced as strongly in German as it is in English, though. Be aware that the way you pronounce the letter “s” is different though when it appears at the end of a word instead of at the front. The sound at the end is a hissing sound of an “s.” That is also the case when a double “s” appears in the middle of a word.
- When the German letter “z” is in the middle of a word (as with “sitzen“), it is pronounced as an English “ts” sound.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Determining the Context
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Choose whether to speak formally or informally. In German, you will conjugate a verb like the one for "to sit" depending on the context and the person you are addressing. You will use different words for formal settings and different words when speaking to a friend more casually.
- “Du“ is the word for you that is used when you are speaking to a friend or someone more informally. The word is pronounced “doo.”
- “Sie“ ("zee") is the word for you that is used when you are speaking to an adult stranger, an older person or someone with greater status, such as a boss. [11] X Research source Keep the –en on the end of verbs you use more formally.
- This matters when saying the word sit if you are addressing someone else. “Sitzt du?“ (Are you sitting) is how you would speak to someone informally. “Sitzen Sie?“ (Are you sitting) is how you would address someone more formally.
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Conjugate the verb correctly. “Sitzen“ is the full verb for to sit. However, in German, the way you use that word changes depending on whom you are addressing and the context. You need to shorten the verb for non-formal and non-plural uses. [12] X Research source
- Ich sitze (I sit)
- Du sitzt (you sit, informal)
- Er sitzt (he sits)
- Wir sitzen (we sit)
- Ihr sitzt (you sit, plural)
- Sie sitzen (they sit; you sit, formal)
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Video
Tips
- There are many YouTube videos that feature German speakers pronouncing German words. This can be one of the best ways to learn a foreign language because you get to hear the sounds.Thanks
- Local universities commonly offer German language classes, as do many online sites, some of which will pair you with a native speaker.Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://m.interglot.com/de/en/sitze
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42C_AehQsYQ
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-1vuWkrcxE
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS87-pnaAHQ
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnFQdLOjiZ4
- ↑ https://en.bab.la/conjugation/german/sitzen
- ↑ http://www.verbformen.net/conjugation/sitzen_(hat).htm
- ↑ http://www.fluentu.com/german/blog/learn-german-words-pronunciation-audio/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6vquyjxImk
About this article
Article Summary
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To say “sit” in German, use “sich setzen,” pronounced “zeek zeh-tsihn,” if you’re telling someone to sit down. In formal situations, try “Bittzen setzen sie,” or “Please take a seat.” If you’re telling someone you’re sitting down, you can say “Ich sitze,” which means “I am sitting.” You can also say “sass,” pronounced “sahss,” if you’re using the past tense of the word “sit.” For example, “Ich sass” would translate as “I sat” in German. To learn more, like how to conjugate the word “sit” depending on who you’re speaking to, read on!
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