liegen is a stylish German verb used to express that someone or something is positioned or situated somewhere, and it is not related to telling lies.
- Liegen & sich legen difference:
Liegen → to lie (be situated)
sich legen → to lie down (and change position)
- Liegen is a stative verb: it describes a condition or state, not an action.
- Liegen can be used for people, objects, or even abstract things like ideas or responsibilities.
- The simple present tense of liegen is:
| Subject | Verb | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | liege | I lie / am lying (there) |
| du | liegst | you lie / are lying (there) |
| er/sie/es | liegt | he/she/it lies |
| wir | liegen | we lie |
| ihr | liegt | you all lie |
| sie/Sie | liegen | they/you (formal) lie |
- Liegen is conjugated like a regular -en verb, but note the stem vowel changes in the du/er/sie/es forms (ie).
- Typical liegen sentences show things positioned horizontally or statically:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. | The book lies on the table. |
| Wo liegen meine Schlüssel? | Where are my keys (lying)? |
| Die Stadt liegt am Fluss. | The city lies by the river. |
- Liegen doesn't describe the action of getting up or down—a different verb (sich legen) is used for "to lie down" (changing position).
*liegen* expresses being situated or positioned.
It can be used for people, objects, and even abstract things like ideas.
*liegen* means to be situated; *sich legen* means to lie down (change position).
*liegen* is a stative verb.
The correct infinitive is *liegen*.
*liegen* (to be situated), *sich legen* (to lie down), and *lügen* (to tell lies) all relate to 'to lie' in some way.
[Conjugation: to lie (be situated)]
Liegen is a regular -en verb with a stem vowel change (i → ie) in the du/er/sie/es forms. It expresses a state, not an action.
| Tense | Ich | Du | Er/Sie/Es | Wir | Ihr | Sie/sie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | liegen | |||||
| Present | liege | liegst | liegt | liegen | liegt | liegen |
| Simple Past | lag | last | lag | lagen | lagt | lagen |
| Past Participle | gelegen | |||||
| Perfekt | habe gelegen | |||||
| Plusquamperfekt | hatte gelegen | |||||
| Futur I | werde liegen | wirst liegen | wird liegen | werden liegen | werdet liegen | werden liegen |
Liegen expresses being/staying in a position (not moving).
'they lie' = sie liegen; 'you (sing.) lie' = du liegst
The past participle is 'gelegen'.
It's 'wir liegen'.
It's 'lag'.
*liegen* is stative, uses 'haben' in perfect, and describes position.
[Usage: to lie (be situated)]
Liegen is used when something is/is positioned in a horizontal or fixed state. It’s not used for moving or emotional states.
- Core meaning: to be positioned/situated (usually horizontally or in a resting state)
- Can be used for locations, objects, people, and even abstract concepts (e.g., responsibility)
- Typical contexts: furniture arrangement, where items rest, geographical locations
- Not for “lying” as in telling untruths (lügen) or changing position (sich legen)
Examples
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Der Stuhl liegt umgekippt. | The chair is lying (overturned). |
| ..."
| "Die Verantwortung liegt bei dir." | "The responsibility lies with you." |
|---|
*liegen* is used for things positioned statically—books, cities, even responsibility.
Yes, it can be used for abstract concepts like responsibility.
Yes, if emphasizing the stationary position. For 'to lie down' (change position), use *sich legen*.
[Common Mistake]
Liegen (to be situated) ≠ sich legen (to lie down). You do NOT use liegen for moving into a lying position; it only describes the state of being "laid out."
'sich legen' means to lie down (change position).
No, use *sich legen* for the act of lying down.
Conclusion
Liegen is essential for expressing where things "are situated" in a calm, fixed way.
- Expresses being/positioning in a horizontal state.
- Used for objects, people, places, and even abstract ideas.
- NOT for active positioning (use sich legen), or telling lies (lügen).