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The Dutch verb zeggen means "to say" or "to tell" in English. It is one of the most essential communication verbs in Dutch, ranked 25th in frequency. For autodidact students, understanding zeggen opens the door to reporting speech, expressing opinions, and engaging in conversational Dutch. This irregular verb (past tense: zei/zeiden, past participle: gezegd) appears in countless everyday expressions and idiomatic phrases.
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FAQ: What does "zeggen" mean in Dutch? "Zeggen" is the Dutch verb meaning "to say" or "to tell." It is used for reporting direct and indirect speech, expressing statements, and conveying information verbally. The verb is irregular in its past tense forms but follows regular patterns in the present tense.
Throughout these 15 examples, you will encounter zeggen in various tenses, moods, and syntactic positions, demonstrating its versatility in Dutch communication. The word appears with different subjects, in questions, negations, and subordinate clauses, showing the full range of its usage.
Educational Material: This lesson is designed for English speakers learning Dutch using the proven Latinum Institute interlinear method.
Key Takeaways: -
Present tense: ik zeg, jij zegt, hij/zij zegt, wij zeggen -
Past tense: zei (singular), zeiden (plural) -
Past participle: gezegd -
Common expressions: "zeg maar" (just say), "zo te zeggen" (so to speak)
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zeggen [ˈzɛɣə(n)] - the 'g' is a voiced velar fricative, like gargling zeg [zɛx] - present tense stem zei [zɛi] - past tense singular gezegd [ɣəˈzɛxt] - past participle
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25.1 Wat what zeg say je you daarover about-that
25.2 Hij he zei said dat that hij he komt comes
25.3 Ik I kan can niets nothing zeggen say
25.4 Ze she zeggen say altijd always de the waarheid truth
25.5 Waarom why zegt says niemand nobody iets something
25.6 We we hebben have alles everything gezegd said
25.7 Jullie you-PL moeten must het it zeggen say
25.8 Wie who heeft has dat that gezegd said
25.9 Zeg say-IMP het it maar just tegen against haar her
25.10 Hij he wil wants niets nothing meer more zeggen say
25.11 Dat that zei said ik I toch indeed al already
25.12 Ze they zeggen say veel much maar but doen do weinig little
25.13 Kun can je you me me zeggen tell hoe how laat late het it is is
25.14 Mijn my moeder mother zegt says vaak often nee no
25.15 Wat what je you ook also zegt say hij he luistert listens niet not
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25.1 Wat zeg je daarover? → "What do you say about that?"
25.2 Hij zei dat hij komt. → "He said that he's coming."
25.3 Ik kan niets zeggen. → "I can't say anything."
25.4 Ze zeggen altijd de waarheid. → "They always tell the truth."
25.5 Waarom zegt niemand iets? → "Why doesn't anyone say something?"
25.6 We hebben alles gezegd. → "We've said everything."
25.7 Jullie moeten het zeggen. → "You (plural) have to say it."
25.8 Wie heeft dat gezegd? → "Who said that?"
25.9 Zeg het maar tegen haar. → "Just tell her."
25.10 Hij wil niets meer zeggen. → "He doesn't want to say anything more."
25.11 Dat zei ik toch al. → "I already said that."
25.12 Ze zeggen veel maar doen weinig. → "They say a lot but do little."
25.13 Kun je me zeggen hoe laat het is? → "Can you tell me what time it is?"
25.14 Mijn moeder zegt vaak nee. → "My mother often says no."
25.15 Wat je ook zegt, hij luistert niet. → "Whatever you say, he doesn't listen."
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25.1 Wat zeg je daarover?
25.2 Hij zei dat hij komt.
25.3 Ik kan niets zeggen.
25.4 Ze zeggen altijd de waarheid.
25.5 Waarom zegt niemand iets?
25.6 We hebben alles gezegd.
25.7 Jullie moeten het zeggen.
25.8 Wie heeft dat gezegd?
25.9 Zeg het maar tegen haar.
25.10 Hij wil niets meer zeggen.
25.11 Dat zei ik toch al.
25.12 Ze zeggen veel maar doen weinig.
25.13 Kun je me zeggen hoe laat het is?
25.14 Mijn moeder zegt vaak nee.
25.15 Wat je ook zegt, hij luistert niet.
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Grammar Rules for This Passage:
The verb zeggen is irregular in Dutch, with the following conjugation patterns:
Present Tense: -
ik zeg (I say) -
jij/je zegt (you say) -
hij/zij/het zegt (he/she/it says) -
wij/we zeggen (we say) -
jullie zeggen (you plural say) -
zij/ze zeggen (they say)
Past Tense: -
ik/jij/hij/zij zei (I/you/he/she said) -
wij/jullie/zij zeiden (we/you/they said)
Perfect Tense: -
hebben + gezegd (have said)
Word Order: In Dutch main clauses, the conjugated verb takes second position (V2 rule). In questions, it moves to first position. In subordinate clauses introduced by "dat" (that), the verb moves to the end.
Common Mistakes: -
Using regular past tense forms (*zegde instead of zei) -
Forgetting the soft 'g' sound [ɣ] in standard Dutch -
Confusing "zeggen" (to say) with "vertellen" (to tell a story)
The modal particle "maar" after imperatives softens the command, making it more polite.
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In Dutch culture, zeggen appears in many fixed expressions that reflect Dutch directness and pragmatism. The phrase "zeg maar" (literally "say just") is ubiquitous in daily conversation, used when giving someone permission to call you by your first name or when offering options.
The distinction between zeggen (to say) and vertellen (to tell/narrate) is important in Dutch. While English uses "tell" for both brief statements and longer narratives, Dutch maintains this distinction strictly.
Regional Variations: -
In Flanders (Belgium), the 'g' in "zeggen" is pronounced softer -
Southern Dutch dialects may use "zegge" instead of "zeggen" -
The phrase "zeg maar niks" (don't say anything) is a typical Dutch understatement
Formal vs. Informal: -
"Zegt u" is the formal form -
"Zeg je" is informal -
In business contexts, "zoals gezegd" (as said) is common
Common Expressions: -
"Zo gezegd, zo gedaan" (no sooner said than done) -
"Eerlijk gezegd" (honestly speaking) -
"Om zo te zeggen" (so to speak)
Reminder: This lesson is for English speakers learning Dutch.
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Part F-A: Interleaved Text
From Annie M.G. Schmidt's "Jip en Janneke":
"Moet must je you horen," hear zegt says Jip. Jip "Ik I mag may van from mijn my moeder mother een a konijn." rabbit
"Echt really waar?" true zegt says Janneke. Janneke
"Ja," yes zegt says Jip, Jip "maar but papa dad zegt says nee." no
Part F-B: The Text from F-A
"Moet je horen," zegt Jip. "Ik mag van mijn moeder een konijn." "Echt waar?" zegt Janneke. "Ja," zegt Jip, "maar papa zegt nee." → "Listen to this," says Jip. "My mother says I can have a rabbit." "Really?" says Janneke. "Yes," says Jip, "but dad says no."
Part F-C: Original Dutch Text of F-A Only
"Moet je horen," zegt Jip. "Ik mag van mijn moeder een konijn." "Echt waar?" zegt Janneke. "Ja," zegt Jip, "maar papa zegt nee."
Part F-D: Grammar Commentary
This excerpt demonstrates the use of zegt in reporting direct speech, a common narrative device in Dutch literature. Note how the verb "zegt" follows the speaker's name in the tag ("zegt Jip"), showing Dutch V2 word order even in narrative tags. The dialogue showcases typical Dutch family dynamics where parents may disagree, reflected in the simple opposition "moeder...mag" (mother allows) versus "papa zegt nee" (dad says no).
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Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
25.16 "Wat what wilde wanted je you me me zeggen?" tell vroeg asked Anna. Anna
25.17 "Ik I moet must je you iets something belangrijks important zeggen," say antwoordde answered Tom. Tom
25.18 "Zeg say het it dan then maar," just zei said ze she ongeduldig. impatiently
25.19 "Het it is is moeilijk difficult te to zeggen," say aarzelde hesitated hij. he
25.20 "Je you kunt can me me alles everything zeggen," tell verzekerde assured Anna Anna hem. him
25.21 "Nou," well zei said Tom, Tom "ik I heb have een a nieuwe new baan." job
25.22 "Waarom why zeg say je you dat that nu now pas?" only riep called ze she uit. out
25.23 "Ik I wilde wanted het it eerder earlier zeggen," say legde laid hij he uit. out
25.24 "Wat what zeggen say je your ouders parents ervan?" of-it vroeg asked Anna. Anna
25.25 "Ze they zeggen say dat that ik I gek crazy ben," am lachte laughed Tom. Tom
25.26 "Dat that zou would mijn my vader father ook also zeggen," say grinnikte chuckled ze. she
25.27 "Laten let we we het it samen together aan to iedereen everyone zeggen," tell stelde proposed hij he voor. for
25.28 "Goed good idee," idea zei said Anna, Anna "maar but wat what zeggen say we we precies?" exactly
25.29 "We we zeggen say gewoon simply de the waarheid," truth besloot decided Tom. Tom
25.30 "Zoals as jij you altijd always zegt:" say 'eerlijkheid honesty duurt lasts het the langst.'" longest
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Part B: Natural Sentences
25.16 "Wat wilde je me zeggen?" vroeg Anna. → "What did you want to tell me?" Anna asked.
25.17 "Ik moet je iets belangrijks zeggen," antwoordde Tom. → "I have to tell you something important," Tom answered.
25.18 "Zeg het dan maar," zei ze ongeduldig. → "Just say it then," she said impatiently.
25.19 "Het is moeilijk te zeggen," aarzelde hij. → "It's difficult to say," he hesitated.
25.20 "Je kunt me alles zeggen," verzekerde Anna hem. → "You can tell me anything," Anna assured him.
25.21 "Nou," zei Tom, "ik heb een nieuwe baan." → "Well," said Tom, "I have a new job."
25.22 "Waarom zeg je dat nu pas?" riep ze uit. → "Why are you only saying that now?" she exclaimed.
25.23 "Ik wilde het eerder zeggen," legde hij uit. → "I wanted to say it earlier," he explained.
25.24 "Wat zeggen je ouders ervan?" vroeg Anna. → "What do your parents say about it?" Anna asked.
25.25 "Ze zeggen dat ik gek ben," lachte Tom. → "They say I'm crazy," Tom laughed.
25.26 "Dat zou mijn vader ook zeggen," grinnikte ze. → "My father would say that too," she chuckled.
25.27 "Laten we het samen aan iedereen zeggen," stelde hij voor. → "Let's tell everyone together," he suggested.
25.28 "Goed idee," zei Anna, "maar wat zeggen we precies?" → "Good idea," said Anna, "but what exactly do we say?"
25.29 "We zeggen gewoon de waarheid," besloot Tom. → "We'll just tell the truth," Tom decided.
25.30 "Zoals jij altijd zegt: 'eerlijkheid duurt het langst.'" → "As you always say: 'honesty is the best policy.'"
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Part C: Target Language Only
25.16 "Wat wilde je me zeggen?" vroeg Anna.
25.17 "Ik moet je iets belangrijks zeggen," antwoordde Tom.
25.18 "Zeg het dan maar," zei ze ongeduldig.
25.19 "Het is moeilijk te zeggen," aarzelde hij.
25.20 "Je kunt me alles zeggen," verzekerde Anna hem.
25.21 "Nou," zei Tom, "ik heb een nieuwe baan."
25.22 "Waarom zeg je dat nu pas?" riep ze uit.
25.23 "Ik wilde het eerder zeggen," legde hij uit.
25.24 "Wat zeggen je ouders ervan?" vroeg Anna.
25.25 "Ze zeggen dat ik gek ben," lachte Tom.
25.26 "Dat zou mijn vader ook zeggen," grinnikte ze.
25.27 "Laten we het samen aan iedereen zeggen," stelde hij voor.
25.28 "Goed idee," zei Anna, "maar wat zeggen we precies?"
25.29 "We zeggen gewoon de waarheid," besloot Tom.
25.30 "Zoals jij altijd zegt: 'eerlijkheid duurt het langst.'"
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Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dialogue section demonstrates various reporting verbs beyond zeggen: vroeg (asked), antwoordde (answered), aarzelde (hesitated), verzekerde (assured), riep uit (exclaimed), legde uit (explained), lachte (laughed), grinnikte (chuckled), stelde voor (suggested), and besloot (decided).
The infinitive construction "te zeggen" (to say) appears after adjectives like "moeilijk" (difficult). The modal verb "laten" (let) combines with "zeggen" in "laten we het zeggen" (let's say it).
Note the use of "ervan" (about it) as a pronominal adverb and the conditional "zou zeggen" (would say) showing hypothetical speech.
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Dutch 'g' in zeggen represents a voiced velar fricative [ɣ], unfamiliar to English speakers. In Holland, it sounds like gentle gargling; in Belgium, it's softer, almost like 'h'.
The digraph 'ei' in zei (past tense) is pronounced [ɛi], similar to the 'ay' in "say."
The past participle gezegd shows typical Dutch prefix ge- and the final 'd' becomes voiceless [t] due to final devoicing.
Stress Patterns: -
ZEG-gen (stress on first syllable) -
ge-ZEGD (stress on second syllable)
Spelling Rules: -
Double 'g' in infinitive maintains short vowel -
Single 'g' in "zeg" (stem) before consonant
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