versetzen
to transfer
To send a person to a different workplace or to another department.
EXAMPLE
Meine Kollegin wurde in die Filiale nach München versetzt.
My colleague was transferred to the branch in Munich.
versetzen
to transfer / put / pawn
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Meanings
sich in jemanden/etwas versetzen
to put oneself in
To try to understand another person's situation, feelings, or thoughts; to imagine oneself in a situation.
EXAMPLE
Versetz dich doch mal in meine Lage, dann würdest du mich verstehen.
Just put yourself in my position for once, then you would understand me.
versetzen
to put into
To put someone or something into a particular emotional or physical state.
EXAMPLE
Die plötzliche Nachricht versetzte uns alle in helle Aufregung.
The sudden news put us all into a state of great excitement.
versetzen
to promote
To allow a pupil or student to move up to the next higher grade.
EXAMPLE
Obwohl seine Noten nicht die besten waren, wurde er doch noch versetzt.
Although his grades were not the best, he was promoted after all.
versetzen
to move
To move or reposition an object from one place to another.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen den Zaun um einen Meter nach hinten versetzen.
We have to move the fence back by one meter.
versetzen
to pawn
To give a valuable item as collateral in order to borrow money for a short time.
EXAMPLE
In seiner Not musste er die goldene Uhr seiner Großmutter versetzen.
In his distress, he had to pawn his grandmother's gold watch.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Versetzen' (to transfer / put / pawn) is an inseparable verb made up of the prefix 'ver-' and the verb 'setzen' (to set / put). Here, the prefix 'ver-' often indicates a change of place or state.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachricht versetzte ihn in große Sorge.
The news put him into great worry.
Context: workplace
In a professional context, 'versetzen' (to transfer) means that an employee gets a new workplace or a new position. The construction is often 'jemanden nach/in ... versetzen' (to transfer someone to/into ...).
EXAMPLE
Der Angestellte wurde von Hamburg nach Berlin versetzt.
The employee was transferred from Hamburg to Berlin.
Reflexive with 'in'
The expression 'sich in jemanden versetzen' (to put oneself in someone's position) is reflexive and always uses the preposition 'in' with the accusative. It means to imagine oneself in another person's situation.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann mich gut in deine Situation versetzen.
I can put myself in your situation well.
State with 'in'
To express that someone enters an emotional state, you use the structure 'jemanden in' + accusative + 'versetzen' (to put someone into ...). Typical states are 'in Panik' (in panic), 'in Erstaunen' (in amazement), or 'in Aufregung' (in excitement).
EXAMPLE
Der laute Knall versetzte alle Anwesenden in Angst und Schrecken.
The loud bang put everyone present into fear and terror.
Context: school
This meaning is used almost only in a school context. It is usually in the passive to say that a student moves up to the next grade.
EXAMPLE
Am Ende des Schuljahres war unklar, ob er versetzt wird.
At the end of the school year, it was unclear whether he would be promoted.
Context: pawnshop
In this meaning, you give a valuable item as security for money. This typically happens at a pawnshop.
EXAMPLE
Um die Miete zu bezahlen, musste er seinen Laptop versetzen.
To pay the rent, he had to pawn his laptop.
Compare with
versetzen vs bringen
to bring
Bringen and versetzen can both express putting someone into a state. Bringen is more general, while versetzen is especially suitable for clearly triggered emotional reactions and in fixed expressions such as „in Panik versetzen“ (to put someone into a panic). For a strong, immediate reaction, versetzen is therefore often more precise.
versetzen
Der plötzliche Alarm versetzt Lena in Panik.
The sudden alarm sends Lena into a panic.
bringen
Das lange Warten bringt Lena allmählich in Unruhe.
The long wait is gradually making Lena restless.
In real life
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