gestatten

Gestatten is a German verb meaning “to allow” or “to permit.” It is most commonly found in formal language and introductory phrases, where it serves as a polite form of the imperative: “Gestatten Sie mir, mich vorzustellen,” meaning “Please allow me to introduce myself.” The expression is still grammatical today but is generally perceived as formal or old-fashioned in everyday conversation. In ordinary speech, speakers more often say “Bitte erlauben Sie mir…” or “Lassen Sie mich…”.

In addition to its imperative use, gestatten can appear as an exclamatory introductory fragment in writing or speech: “Gestatten, mein Name ist …” This cameo usage is more characteristic of historical texts, stage dialogue, or ceremonial contexts and is less common in modern casual prose.

Morphology and related terms: gestatten is a regular verb. Present tense forms include ich gestatte, du gestattest, er gestattet, wir gestatten, ihr gestattet, Sie gestatten. The past participle is gestattet, used in passive constructions such as “Es ist gestattet” (“It is allowed”). The noun Gestattung (permission, authorization) is related and widely used in formal or administrative contexts.

See also: Erlauben and Genehmigen are common synonyms for “to permit.” The expression “Lassen Sie mich” serves as a widely used, less formal alternative for introducing oneself or making a request.

Overall, gestatten is a historically significant but largely formal or ceremonial verb in modern German, retained mainly in introductions, official language, and certain stylistic contexts.