stellen
to put
To bring something to a specific place in an upright position.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte die Gläser in den Schrank stellen?
Can you please put the glasses in the cupboard?
stellen
to put / to set
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
eine Frage stellen
to ask a question
To ask someone something.
EXAMPLE
Der Journalist durfte dem Politiker nur eine einzige Frage stellen.
The journalist was allowed to ask the politician only a single question.
sich stellen
to turn oneself in
To voluntarily hand oneself over to the police or another authority.
EXAMPLE
Nach tagelanger Flucht stellte sich der Verdächtige der Polizei.
After days on the run, the suspect turned himself in to the police.
sich stellen
to face
To consciously and actively face a challenge, problem, or unpleasant situation.
EXAMPLE
Sie musste sich ihren Ängsten stellen, um die Prüfung zu bestehen.
She had to face her fears in order to pass the exam.
stellen
to set
To set a device, especially a clock or alarm clock, to a specific time or function.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss meinen Wecker auf 6 Uhr morgens stellen.
I have to set my alarm for 6 a.m.
zur Verfügung stellen
to provide
To make something available to someone for use.
EXAMPLE
Die Bibliothek wird den Studierenden zusätzliche Lernräume zur Verfügung stellen.
The library will provide the students with additional study rooms.
einen Antrag stellen
to submit an application
To formally apply for something at an authority or institution.
EXAMPLE
Um finanzielle Unterstützung zu erhalten, müssen Sie einen Antrag stellen.
To receive financial support, you have to submit an application.
stellen
to catch
To stop a person in order to catch them or confront them.
EXAMPLE
Der Detektiv konnte den Dieb stellen, als dieser das Gebäude verlassen wollte.
The detective was able to catch the thief as he was trying to leave the building.
eine Diagnose stellen
to make a diagnosis
As a doctor, to identify and name an illness or medical problem.
EXAMPLE
Nach mehreren Untersuchungen konnte der Arzt endlich eine klare Diagnose stellen.
After several examinations, the doctor was finally able to make a clear diagnosis.
in Frage stellen
to call into question
To doubt something or challenge the validity of something.
EXAMPLE
Die neuen Forschungsergebnisse stellen die bisherige Theorie in Frage.
The new research findings call the previous theory into question.
sich verstellen
to pretend
To act differently from how one really is; to feign a certain behavior.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind stellte sich schlafend, als seine Mutter ins Zimmer kam.
The child pretended to be asleep when his mother came into the room.
Usage tips
Sentence structure with place information
In its basic meaning, 'stellen' (to put) has a fixed sentence pattern: someone puts something (accusative) in/at a place (accusative). The place information is in the accusative because it describes movement toward a destination.
EXAMPLE
Ich stelle die Milch in den Kühlschrank.
I put the milk in the fridge.
Reflexive use
The verb 'stellen' (to put/set) can be used reflexively ('sich stellen'). In this case, the meaning changes significantly. It can mean to surrender to an authority or to face a challenge.
EXAMPLE
Der Dieb hat sich am nächsten Tag der Polizei gestellt.
The thief turned himself in to the police the next day.
Word family
'Stellen' (to put/set) is the base verb for many important verbs with prefixes, such as bestellen, vorstellen, herstellen, or einstellen. If you recognize 'stellen', you can often work out the meaning of these more complex verbs more easily.
EXAMPLE
Können wir Pizza bestellen?
Can we order pizza?
Fixed expression
The combination 'eine Frage stellen' (to ask a question) is a very common fixed expression. The person being asked is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Darf ich Ihnen eine persönliche Frage stellen?
May I ask you a personal question?
Sentence structure with dative
When someone faces something (e.g., a fear, a problem), that thing is in the dative. The pattern is: sich + dative object + stellen.
EXAMPLE
Er muss sich endlich seiner Verantwortung stellen.
He finally has to face his responsibility.
Typical collocations
In this meaning, 'stellen' (to set) is almost always used with devices that show or measure time. Typical combinations are 'den Wecker stellen' (to set the alarm), 'die Uhr stellen' (to set the clock/watch), or 'den Timer stellen' (to set the timer).
EXAMPLE
Hast du den Wecker auf 7:00 Uhr gestellt?
Did you set the alarm for 7:00?
Fixed expression
The expression 'zur Verfügung stellen' (to provide / make available) has a fixed structure: someone (subject) provides someone (dative) with something (accusative).
EXAMPLE
Die Firma stellt ihren Mitarbeitern Laptops zur Verfügung.
The company provides its employees with laptops.
Typical collocations
'Einen Antrag stellen' (to submit an application) is a fixed combination often used in bureaucratic contexts. You submit an application 'auf' something (accusative) or 'bei' an institution (dative).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat bei der Behörde einen Antrag auf Wohngeld gestellt.
She submitted an application for housing benefit to the authority.
Context clue
This meaning of 'stellen' (to catch/confront) is found almost exclusively in contexts where someone is pursued and confronted, e.g., in crime novels or news reports about crimes.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei konnte den flüchtigen Bankräuber nach kurzer Verfolgung stellen.
The police were able to catch the fleeing bank robber after a short chase.
Typical collocations
The expression 'eine Diagnose stellen' (to make a diagnosis) belongs firmly to medical language. Only doctors or specialists can make a diagnosis.
EXAMPLE
Es war für die Ärztin nicht einfach, die richtige Diagnose zu stellen.
It was not easy for the doctor to make the correct diagnosis.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas in Frage stellen' (to call something into question) means to doubt something. What is being doubted appears as an accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Einige Wissenschaftler stellen diese ganze Theorie in Frage.
Some scientists call this entire theory into question.
Word structure
The verb 'sich verstellen' (to pretend / disguise oneself) is related to 'stellen' (to put/set). The inseparable prefix 'ver-' changes the meaning here to 'to act as if' or 'to feign'.
EXAMPLE
Er verstellte seine Stimme am Telefon, damit man ihn nicht erkennt.
He disguised his voice on the phone so that people would not recognize him.
Compare with
machenkommenfragensetzenlegenaufstellenanbringenangehenbegegnenplatzierenabstellenaufsetzenhervorgehenverstellenaufwerfen
stellen vs machen
to do / make
Machen can generally refer to carrying out an action, and stellen is also used in connection with a diagnosis. However, for a medically identified illness, eine Diagnose stellen is the established expression. Machen remains understandable here, but it sounds less appropriate than stellen.
stellen
Die Ärztin stellt nach der Untersuchung eine Diagnose.
After the examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis.
machen
Die Ärztin macht nach der Untersuchung eine erste Diagnose.
After the examination, the doctor makes an initial diagnosis.
In real life
Loading video examples...