zitten

From Middle Dutch sitten, from Old Dutch sitten, from Proto-West Germanic *sittjan, from Proto-Germanic *sitjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sed-.

• IPA^(key): /ˈzɪtə(n)/

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• Hyphenation: zit‧ten
• Rhymes: -ɪtən

zitten

1. (intransitive) to sit

   Ze zaten op de bank.

   They were sitting on the couch.

2. (intransitive) to be, to be placed or located

   Synonyms: liggen, lopen, staan, zijn

   Zijn vinger zit tussen de deur.

   His finger is stuck in the door.

   Ik zit in de trein.

   I am on the train.

   (literally, “I sit in the train.”)

3. (auxiliary, with te) Forms a continuous aspect. Although it carries an implication of sitting, this is vague and is not strictly required or emphasized.

   Terwijl jij rustig je tijd neemt, zit ik hier voor niets te wachten.

   While you're taking your time, I am waiting here for nothing.

4. (intransitive, figurative, Netherlands, office jargon) to have a meeting, to consult, to sit down

   Ik zit morgen met de projectleider over de verdere implementatie van het verandertraject.

   Tomorrow, I'll have a meeting with the project manager about the further implementation of the transformation process.

• zetel

• Afrikaans: sit
• Berbice Creole Dutch: sete
• Javindo: sitten
• Jersey Dutch: sätte
• Negerhollands: sit, set
• Skepi Creole Dutch: set, sit