zijn — to be
zijn is the #2 most common word in Dutch, a verb. It means “to be” and is pronounced /zɛi̯n/.
#2frequency rank
3.28%of everyday Dutch text
Level 1Beginner 1
Forms of zijn
| Form | What it is | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| zijn | infinitive | to be |
| zijn | -ing form | being |
| ben | I · singular · present | I am |
| was | I · singular · past | I was |
| bent | you · singular · present | you are |
| ben | you · singular · present | you are |
| was | you · singular · past | you were |
| bent | you · singular · present · polite | you are |
| is | you · singular · present · polite | you are |
| was | you · singular · past · polite | you were |
| is | he/she · singular · present | he/she is |
| was | he/she · singular · past | he/she was |
| zijn | plural · present | we/they are |
| waren | plural · past | we/they were |
| wees | singular · command | be! |
| ben | singular · command | be! |
| zijnd | -ing form | being |
| geweest | past participle | been |