Polyglot Dictionary

legen

/ˈleːɡn̩/

verb A2

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Core Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

present (3rd sg.)
legt
past
legte
perfect
hat gelegt

Meaning

  1. to lay, to put down (flat)

    A motion verb (something is placed into a horizontal position) that contrasts with liegen, the state of already lying down.

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive

Similar words

platzieren

Close — both mean to place/position something.

stellen

Worth distinguishing: legen means to lay something flat; stellen means to put something upright.

Similar in other languages

Spanish

situar

situar is the Spanish word for the same thing — both mean "to lay, to place."

Practice

1 What does legen mean?

2 Fill the gap: Sie ___ das Buch auf den Tisch.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches legen?

See also

verb

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