🪑🙋

How to Say ‘I wanted to sit down’ in German

Ich wollte mich hinsetzen

ikh VOL-tuh mikh HIN-zet-sen

[ikh VOL-tuh mikh HIN-zet-sen]

💬 Usage Tip: hinsetzen "to sit down" needs mich "myself", because in German you literally seat yourself: Ich setze mich hin, with hin moving to the end.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich wollte mich

ikh VOL-tuh mikh

I wanted (to sit) myself

'wollte' is the past tense of 'wollen' (to want). The 'w' sounds like English 'v'. 'mich' is the reflexive pronoun that goes with 'sich hinsetzen'.

Example

Ich wollte mich ausruhen.

I wanted to rest.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

wollte

[VOL-tuh]

wanted to

Past tense form used politely in 'I wanted to...' expressions.

Example

Ich wollte sagen, dass seit gestern Abend nur kaltes Wasser da ist.

I wanted to say that since yesterday evening there has only been cold water.

mich

[mikh]

myself

A reflexive pronoun used with certain verbs like 'sich bedanken.'

Example

Ich wollte mich für Ihre Zeit bedanken.

I wanted to thank you for your time.

hinsetzen

[HIN-zet-sen]

to sit down

Separable verb: to take a seat somewhere; used with a reflexive pronoun.

Example

Ich möchte mich hinsetzen.

I'd like to sit down.

Guides for German learners

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