The meaning of the German verb “stehen” and its English equivalents

The meaning of the German verb “stehen” and its English equivalents

Many Germans have difficulty in accepting that “stehen” often simply means “to be” in English. For example, in English you say, “The vase is on the table.” It is absolutely okay when you translate this as “Die Vase ist auf dem Tisch”. However, this is not nice German. Germans do not only give the location of a thing or person, but also how it is positioned. Is it standing (stehen) or lying (liegen)? We will have a closer look at the verb “liegen” (to lie) in another post. For now, lets focus on “stehen”.

The correct German translation of “The vase is on the table” is “Die Vase steht auf dem Tisch”. Germans tend to translate it literally into English “The vase is standing on the table.” So whenever you wish to give the location of an object or subject mind how it is (usually) positioned. When it is (usually) in an upright position you use the verb “stehen”.

Of course, it is possible that a vase overturns and falls off the table. In this case, it is no longer in an upright position. Hence, you have to use the verb “liegen.”

 1. Wir standen in der ersten Reihe.
(We stood in the front row.)

2. Doreen stand zitternd am Wasser.
(Doreen stood by the water shivering.)

3. Die Frisur stand ihr sehr gut.
(The hairstyle suited her very well.)

4. Stand das in dem Buch?
(Was that written in the book?)

. Ich werde am Bahnhof stehen.
(I will be waiting at the station.)

2. Das Kleid wird ihr nicht stehen?
(The dress won’t suit her.)

3. Sie werden ab 15 Uhr am Ausgang stehen.
(They will be waiting at the exit door from 3 p.m. onwards.)

4. Sie werden alles stehen und liegen lassen, wenn …
(They will drop everything when …)

1. Er hat die Tat gestanden.
(I confessed the crime.)

2. Habt ihr an der richtigen Stelle gestanden?
(Have you been at the right spot?)

3. Zehn Jahre hat er für das Unternehmen seinen Mann gestanden.
(For ten years he stood his ground for the company.)

4. Die Jacke hat ihm wirklich gut gestanden.
(The jacket suited him very well.)

1. Ich hatte fünf Meter neben dem Haus gestanden.(I had been standing five meters beside the house.)

2. Das Auto hatte in Flammen gestanden.(The car had been in flames.)

3. Der Dieb hatte die Tat sofort gestanden.(The thief had confessed the crime immediately.)

4. Die Elektrogeräte hatten im Regen gestanden. Jetzt sind sie alle kaputt.(The electric appliances had been left out in the rain. Now all of them are broken.)

1. Bis zur nächsten Verhandlung wird er die Tat gestanden haben.(He will have confessed the crime until the next hearing.)