Betraten

Betraten is in Dutch the simple past tense form of the verb betreden. Betreden means to step onto or to enter a place, and can be used both in a literal sense (entering a room, stepping onto a stage) and in a figurative sense (entering negotiations, entering a field of study). The word can appear in historical or narrative contexts when describing actions that happened in the past.

The verb betreden is formed from the base treden, meaning to tread, with the prefix be-, which is common in Dutch to create transitive verbs. The past tense form betraden is used for plural subjects (for example, Zij betraden het kamp), while the singular past tense is betrad (for example, Hij betrad het podium). The past participle of betreden is betreden, which is used to form perfect tenses with auxiliary verbs (for example, Het kamp is betreden; Ze hebben het kamp betreden).

In modern usage, betreden remains a standard verb in written Dutch and formal speech. The past tense betraden is most likely to appear in reports, histories, or literary narration, whereas the infinitive betreden and the present tense betreed are common in everyday language. The verb is related to other Germanic words for stepping or entering, sharing a lineage with similar verbs across Dutch, German, and English.

Notes for learners: do not confuse betraten with the unrelated English word betray, which comes from different roots. In Dutch, betray translates more directly to verbs like verraden (to betray a confidant) or bedriegen (to deceive).