The verb is pronounced “zitss-ihn. ”[2] X Research source [3] X Research source Put the emphasis on the first syllabus in the word. The German verb for sit down is “sich setzen” (zeek zeh-tsihn). If you want to tell someone to sit, though, the quickest way to do that is to say, “sitz!” (pronounced as zihtss). Be aware this could be perceived as impolite!
To say sit down, say “setz dich” (zehts deekh). This differs from the verb itself because it’s conjugated with dich, which means you. [4] X Research source Bittzen setzen sie sich means please take a seat (bit-tsihn zeh-tsihn zee zeekh). The ch is pronounced uniquely in German. It’s best to listen to it. Some have described it as sounding like an angry cat sound! It’s a bit like a “kah” sound in English, but more gutteral. [5] X Research source Ich sitze means I am sitting (“eekh ziht-tsah”). Again, listen to the German version of –ch.
Ich saß (I sat). The ß is the German symbol for a double s, “ss. ” Du Saß (You sat, informal). Er saß (He sat). Wir saßen (We sat). Ihr saß (She sat). Sie saßen (They sat, formal). You can find detailed charts online for other tenses of the verb to sit, including the past perfect, future I and future II versions of the verb. For example, I have sat is “Ich habe gesessen” in German (pronounced Eek hah-bah Gih-seh-ssihn). [6] X Research source [7] X Research source
Germans have visible tension in their mouth and pull their lips to the side when they pronounce words. Sometimes non-native speakers of German will hold their mouths too slack, especially their lower lips. Too loose of a lower lip, and you will not sound German. You will look like you’re chewing gum, and your accent will be obvious!
When the letter “s” appears in front of a vowel, you need to pronounce the German consonant “s” like you would pronounce the English “z. ” Thus, the “s” at the start of the word “sitzen” should be pronounced like an English “z. ” [10] X Research source The German sound “z” is not voiced as strongly in German as it is in English, though. Be aware that the way you pronounce the letter “s” is different though when it appears at the end of a word instead of at the front. The sound at the end is a hissing sound of an “s. ” That is also the case when a double “s” appears in the middle of a word. When the German letter “z” is in the middle of a word (as with sitzen), it is pronounced as an English “ts” sound.
Du is the word for you that is used when you are speaking to a friend or someone more informally. The word is pronounced “doo. ” Sie (“zee”) is the word for you that is used when you are speaking to an older person or someone with greater status, such as a boss. [11] X Research source Keep the –en on the end of verbs you use more formally. This matters when saying the word sit if you are addressing someone else. Sitzt du? (Are you sitting) is how you would speak to someone informally. Sitzen Sie? (Are you sitting) is how you would address someone more formally.
Ich sitze (I sit) Du sitzt (you sit, informal) Er sitzt (he sits) Wir sitzen (we sit) Ihr sitzt (she sits) Sie sitzen (They sit, formal)
