besitzen
to own / possess
To have something as legal property.
EXAMPLE
Er besitzt ein kleines Haus am Meer.
He owns a small house by the sea.
besitzen
to own / to possess
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Meanings
besitzen
to possess
To have a certain quality, ability, or characteristic.
EXAMPLE
Sie besitzt die seltene Gabe, andere Menschen zum Lachen zu bringen.
She possesses the rare gift of making other people laugh.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Besitzen' (to own/possess) is an inseparable verb that comes from the verb 'sitzen' (to sit). The prefix 'be-' turns 'sitzen' into a transitive verb. The idea is that you 'sit' on your property and therefore possess it.
EXAMPLE
Die Familie besitzt seit Generationen dieses große Landgut.
The family has owned this large estate for generations.
Register and style
'Besitzen' (to own/possess) is more formal than the everyday word 'haben' (to have). It is often used in written language, in legal contexts, or when you want to emphasize lawful ownership.
EXAMPLE
Laut Testament besitzt nun seine Tochter das gesamte Vermögen.
According to the will, his daughter now owns the entire fortune.
Typical collocations
In the sense of 'Eigentum haben' (to own property), 'besitzen' (to own/possess) is often used for valuable or large things. Typical objects are: 'ein Haus besitzen' (to own a house), 'ein Grundstück besitzen' (to own a plot of land), 'Aktien besitzen' (to own shares), or 'ein Unternehmen besitzen' (to own a company).
EXAMPLE
Er träumt davon, eines Tages ein eigenes Segelboot zu besitzen.
He dreams of owning his own sailboat one day.
Typical collocations
When talking about qualities, 'besitzen' (to possess) is often used for special abilities or character traits. Typical combinations are: 'die Fähigkeit besitzen' (to possess the ability), 'Mut besitzen' (to possess courage), 'Geduld besitzen' (to possess patience), or 'einen scharfen Verstand besitzen' (to possess a sharp mind).
EXAMPLE
Sie besitzt den besonderen Charme, jeden für sich zu gewinnen.
She possesses the special charm to win everyone over.
Compare with
besitzen vs haben
to have
Haben expresses possession or belonging in a neutral way. Besitzen more clearly indicates that something is a person's legal property and sounds less everyday. Haben is usually suitable for an ordinary statement; when ownership itself is important, besitzen is more precise.
besitzen
Nora besitzt das Auto gemeinsam mit ihrer Schwester.
Nora owns the car jointly with her sister.
haben
Nora hat ein Auto.
Nora has a car.
In real life
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