schiet

Schiet is the present tense form of the Dutch verb schieten, which means to shoot or to fire. It is used with most singular subjects, including ik schiet, jij schiet, and hij schiet, and contrasts with the plural form wij/jullie/zij schieten. The word appears in everyday language, military and sports contexts, and in idiomatic expressions.

Etymology and related forms: Schiet derives from the Dutch verb schieten, which has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as German schießen and English shoot. The form schiet specifically marks the present tense for several singular subjects, while the plural present is schieten. The infinitive of the verb is schieten, and the past tense is geboren in the form schoot, with the past participle geschoten.

Usage and senses: The primary sense of schiet is to discharge a weapon or projectiles, as in firing a gun, bow, or cannon. It is also used in sports to mean attempting a shot, for example in football (to shoot at goal) or basketball. In photography and film, schieten is sometimes used informally to mean taking a photograph or shooting a scene, though more neutral terms like maken or opnemen are common in formal writing. The verb can appear in numerous compounds and constructions, including expressions like schietpartij (a shooting incident) and schietop (shooting position) in specialized contexts.

Idioms and common phrases: A well-known expression is Schiet op, meaning hurry up, which uses the imperative form schiet to convey urgency rather than shooting. The verb also appears in imperatives and in phrases describing ongoing shooting activity (aan het schieten zijn) or targets and ranges (schietbaan).

See also: Schieten (the infinitive and broader verb), schietsport (shooting sports), and related compounds involving schiet.