stehen

• IPA^(key): [ˈstɛɦɛn]

stehen n

1. genitive plural of stehno

• steh'n
• stehn (dated in formal prose, but still common informally or poetically)

From Middle High German stān, stēn, from Old High German stān, stēn, from Proto-West Germanic *stān, from Proto-Germanic *stāną. The -h- was introduced into the spelling by analogy with sehen, in which it had become mute but was retained in spelling.

Past forms are inherited from Old High German stuond, stuonden, etc. These are themselves suppletive of Proto-West Germanic *standan's past forms in *stōnd-, replacing former forms inherited from *stān in *stōþ-. Compare english stood. Their a-vocalism is due to analogy with other strong verbs such as binden (band) and finden (fand), dating back to Middle High German. See also stand.

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃteː.ən/ (official standard, but less common)
• IPA^(key): /ʃteːn/ (predominant)

• Audio:

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• Audio (Austria):

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• Rhymes: -eːən, -eːn
• Hyphenation: ste‧hen

stehen (irregular strong, third-person singular present steht, past tense stand, past participle gestanden, past subjunctive stände or stünde, auxiliary haben or sein)

1. (intransitive) to stand (to be upright, support oneself in an erect position)

   Das Haus ist abgebrannt, aber die Wände stehen noch.

   The house burned down, but the walls are still standing.

2. (intransitive) to be, to stand (to be placed or located somewhere in an upright position)

   Ich stehe an der Ecke. ― I'm standing on the corner.

   Die Waschmaschine steht im Bad. ― The washing mashine is in the bathroom.

   • 1931, Arthur Schnitzler, chapter IV, in Flucht in die Finsternis‎^[1], S. Fischer Verlag, page 36:

     Ein frisch gefülltes Glas Champagner stand vor ihm. Er trank es in einem Zug aus – mit Lust, fast mit Begier.

     A freshly filled glass of champagne was in front of him. He emptied it in one draught – with pleasure, almost with greed.

3. (intransitive) to be written, it says (in a book, on a sign, etc.)

   Das Wort steht nicht im Wörterbuch. ― That word isn't in the dictionary.

   Auf dem Schild steht 'Kein Zutritt'. ― The sign says 'No entry'.

4. (intransitive) to stay, to be still, to have stopped or not yet started moving

   Das Leben steht. ― Life stands still.

   Der Zug stand noch, als wir in den Bahnhof kamen, fuhr aber ab, bevor wir ihn erreichen konnten.

   The train hadn't yet started moving when we entered the train station, but it left before we could reach it.

5. (intransitive, copulative) to stay, to stand, to be (in a certain state, position or circumstance)

   Das Haus steht leer. ― The house stands empty.

   Das Team steht an der Spitze seiner Liga. ― The team stands at the top of their league.

6. to suit, to become (to look attractive on, of a garment, color etc.) [with dative]

   Blau steht dir sehr gut! ― Blue suits you very well!

   Der Tod steht ihr gut ― Death Becomes Her (film title)

7. to represent, to stand for [with für (+ accusative) ‘something’]

   Rote Rosen stehen für Liebe und Leidenschaft. ― Red roses represent love and passion.

8. to support, to stand by [with zu (+ dative) or hinter (+ dative) ‘someone’]
9. (Switzerland) to put, to place

   Synonym: sich stellen

10. (intransitive, colloquial) to have a thing for, to fancy [with auf (+ accusative) ‘someone’]

    Ich glaube, sie steht nicht auf dich. ― I don't think she fancies you.

    • 1980, “Wir Steh'n Auf Berlin”, performed by Ideal:

      Neben mir wohnt ein Philosoph / Fenster auf, ich hör Türkenmelodien / Ich fühl mich gut / Ich steh auf Berlin

      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

11. (impersonal) Used to state the current scoreline in a team sport

    Es steht 2-1. ― The current score is 2-1.

The most frequent auxiliary with stehen is haben: Ich habe gestanden. (NB: This expression also happens to be the perfect tense of gestehen: I have confessed.) In northern and central Germany, only this form is used. In southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, sein is common in the vernacular and also, alternatively, in standard usage: Ich bin gestanden.

• “stehen” in Duden online
• “stehen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “stehen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “stehen” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.