toebehoeren

Toebehoeren, also spelled toebehooren, is a Dutch verb meaning “to belong to” or “to pertain to.” It is used to express that an object, property, or unit is owned by or associated with a person or organization.

In usage, toebehoeren is typically followed by a subject and the preposition toe, or used with the construction behoort toe aan someone. Common present tense forms include: ik behoor toe, jij behoort toe, hij behoort toe, wij behoren toe, jullie behoren toe, zij behoren toe. The past tense is formed as: ik behoorde toe, jij behoorde toe, hij behoorde toe, wij behoorden toe, jullie behoorden toe, zij behoorden toe. The perfect is formed with hebben: ik heb toebehoord, jij hebt toebehoord, hij heeft toebehoord.

A related sense exists in the noun toebehoren, which means “belongings” or “accessories.” This noun refers to items that belong to something or someone, such as the toebehoren of a device or machine. It is important to distinguish the verb toebehoeren from the noun toebehoren in usage.

Examples: “Het huis behoort toe aan de familie.” “Deze auto behoort toe aan de vorige eigenaar.” “De toebehoren van de luidsprekers zijn ontbrekend.” Etymologically, the verb derives from toe- plus behor(en), reflecting the idea of belonging or pertaining, with the noun form toebehoren historically related to items that belong to a larger whole.

See also: ownership, possession, belong (in Dutch: behoren, toebehoeren).