nisten
to nest
To build a nest or stay in a nest to breed; this is done mainly by birds and other animals.
EXAMPLE
Die Schwalben nisten unter dem Dach unseres Hauses.
The swallows nest under the roof of our house.
nisten
to nest
nisten – nistete – hat genistet
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry nisten, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | niste |
|---|---|
| du | nistest |
| er/sie/es | nistet |
| wir | nisten |
| ihr | nistet |
| sie | nisten |
Simple past
| ich | nistete |
|---|---|
| du | nistetest |
| er/sie/es | nistete |
| wir | nisteten |
| ihr | nistetet |
| sie | nisteten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe genistet |
|---|---|
| du | hast genistet |
| er/sie/es | hat genistet |
| wir | haben genistet |
| ihr | habt genistet |
| sie | haben genistet |
Commands
| du | nist! niste! |
|---|---|
| ihr | nistet! |
| Sie | nisten Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte genistet |
|---|---|
| du | hattest genistet |
| er/sie/es | hatte genistet |
| wir | hatten genistet |
| ihr | hattet genistet |
| sie | hatten genistet |
Future
| ich | werde nisten |
|---|---|
| du | wirst nisten |
| er/sie/es | wird nisten |
| wir | werden nisten |
| ihr | werdet nisten |
| sie | werden nisten |
Subjunctive I
| ich | niste |
|---|---|
| du | nistest |
| er/sie/es | niste |
| wir | nisten |
| ihr | nistet |
| sie | nisten |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | nistete |
|---|---|
| du | nistetest |
| er/sie/es | nistete |
| wir | nisteten |
| ihr | nistetet |
| sie | nisteten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | nisten |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu nisten |
| present participle | nistend |
| past participle | genistet |
Usage tips
Word family
'Nisten' (to nest) belongs to the word family of 'Nest' (nest). This connection helps you associate the verb with a fixed place for a nest.
EXAMPLE
Viele Störche nisten jedes Jahr in diesem Gebiet.
Many storks nest in this area every year.
Sentence pattern
'Nisten' (to nest) is usually used without an accusative object. The location often appears with 'in' or 'unter' (under) and describes where the animal stays.
EXAMPLE
Die Eulen nisten in alten Bäumen.
The owls nest in old trees.
Die Enten nisten unter einem Busch am Ufer.
The ducks nest under a bush on the shore.
Typical collocations
With 'nisten' (to nest), the subject is particularly often a bird species or the plural 'Vögel' (birds). Typical locations include trees, roofs, rocks, or other sheltered places.
EXAMPLE
Die Falken nisten in den Felsen über dem Tal.
The falcons nest in the rocks above the valley.
In real life
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