besetzt
Meaning and Usage
"Besetzt" in German translates to "occupied" or "busy" in English. It is used to describe something that is taken, filled, or engaged, such as a seat, a room, a phone line, or a schedule slot.
Linguistic Analysis
The word "besetzt" is the past participle of the verb "besetzen," which is formed with the prefix "be-" indicating a completion or covering and the root "setzen" meaning "to set" or "to put."
Comparisons between German and English
The word "besetzt" in German directly translates to "occupied" in English, showing a clear similarity in meaning and usage.
Cultural Context
In Germany, it is common courtesy to indicate that a seat or a room is "besetzt" by placing an item on the seat or leaving the door closed. This signals to others that the space is already taken.
Example Sentences
- Der Tisch ist besetzt. (The table is occupied.)
- Alle Linien sind besetzt. (All lines are busy.)
Memory Tips
Associate "besetzt" with the English word "busy" to help remember its meaning as occupied or engaged.
Additional Vocabulary
- Synonyms: belegt (occupied), vergeben (taken)
- Antonyms: frei (free), leer (empty)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
Gender: Not applicable (besetzt is an adjective) Plural: besetzt (no change)
Conjugation (for verbs)
Present tense of the verb "besetzen":
- ich besetze (I occupy)
- du besetzt (you occupy)
- er/sie/es besetzt (he/she/it occupies)
- wir besetzen (we occupy)
- ihr besetzt (you all occupy)
- sie besetzen (they occupy)