stelen

Stelen is a Dutch verb meaning to steal, i.e., to take someone else’s property without permission. It is used in everyday language to describe theft and also appears in legal and criminological contexts, where the act is classified under diefstal (theft). Dutch law distinguishes diefstal from related offenses such as theft with aggravating circumstances, and penalties depend on factors like the value of the stolen goods and the offender’s intent.

Etymology and related forms: Stelen belongs to the West Germanic language family and is cognate with English steal and German stehlen. The word’s conjugation is irregular, as is common with many Dutch verbs of this class. The past participle is gestolen, and the verb forms change across tenses and persons.

Usage notes: The typical construction is iemand iets stelen, meaning to steal something from someone. Common compound terms include winkeldiefstal (shoplifting) and autodiefstal (car theft). Stelen is employed across a range of contexts, from routine news reports about petty theft to discussions of criminal law and policy.

See also: Diefstal, which is the Dutch term for theft; Dief, meaning thief; Winkeldiefstal and autodiefstal, terms describing shoplifting and car theft, respectively.