verstaan

From Dutch verstaan, from Middle Dutch verstaen, from Old Dutch farstān, from Proto-Germanic *fura + *stāną.

• IPA^(key): /fərˈstɑːn/

• Audio:

  (file)

verstaan (present verstaan, present participle verstanende, past participle verstaan)

1. to understand, comprehend

From Middle Dutch verstaen, from Old Dutch farstān, from Proto-Germanic *fura + *stāną, compare Proto-West Germanic *frastandan (“to oppose; to understand”). Cognate with German verstehen; English forstand, Swedish förstå. Equivalent to ver- +‎ staan.

• IPA^(key): /vɛrˈstaːn/, /vərˈstaːn/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ver‧staan
• Rhymes: -aːn

verstaan

1. to understand (language, words), to hear clearly
2. (Belgium) to understand (an idea, meaning), to comprehend

In sense 2, the verb begrijpen is more common in the Netherlands but verstaan is also used, while the opposite is uncommon in all Dutch-speaking areas.

• begrijpen
• snappen

• misverstaan

• verstaander
• verstand

• Afrikaans: verstaan
• Berbice Creole Dutch: frustan, furstan
• Jersey Dutch: verstâne
• Negerhollands: verstaan, fostó, fóstán, verstaen
• Skepi Creole Dutch: forstan, forestan
• → Sranan Tongo: ferstan, frustan (see there for further descendants)

verstaan

1. past participle of verstaan

verstaan

1. genitive singular of verstas

• vertansa