besitzen

Besitzen is a German verb meaning to own or to have in one’s possession. It is transitive and governs a direct object, as in “Sie besitzt zwei Autos” or “Er besitzt das Haus seit zehn Jahren.” The term can describe physical objects as well as intangible assets, such as “Er besitzt viel Wissen” or “Sie besitzt Erfahrung.”

Besitz refers to possession or actual control of a thing, whereas Eigentum denotes legal ownership. In law, a person may be in possession (im Besitz) of a thing without being its Eigentümer. Conversely, Eigentum implies a legal right of ownership. Common expressions include “im Besitz von” and “Besitz erlangen.” The words Besitzer or Besitzerin designate the holder of something in everyday usage.

Conjugation and usage: In the present tense, bes itzt is ich besitze, du besitzt, er besitzt, wir besitzen, ihr besitzt, sie besitzen. The preterite shows vowel alternation: ich besaß, du besaßest, er besaß, wir besaßen, ihr besaßt, sie besaßen. The past participle is besessen, and the perfect tense is formed with haben (ich habe besessen, du hast besessen, etc.). Besitzen is used with both concrete objects (a car, a house) and abstract domains (knowledge, experience).

Etymology and related terms: The verb is closely related to the noun Besitz, with the prefix be- forming a verbal action. Related terms include der Besitzer (owner) and die Besitzerschaft (possession in a broader sense). In everyday language, the distinction between Besitz and Eigentum is commonly observed, especially in legal or administrative contexts.