gessen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (in English contexts); High (in German contexts as 'have eaten')Informal, dialectal, or foreign language. In English, it would only appear in contexts discussing German language, culture, or in direct quotes/songs (e.g., 'Wir haben schon gegessen' - We have already eaten).
Quick answer
What does “gessen” mean?
A specific, primarily regional, German term meaning 'to guess' or 'to estimate', but more commonly recognized as the past participle of the verb 'essen' (to eat) in Standard German, meaning 'to have eaten'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific, primarily regional, German term meaning 'to guess' or 'to estimate', but more commonly recognized as the past participle of the verb 'essen' (to eat) in Standard German, meaning 'to have eaten'.
In regional German dialects (e.g., Low German, Ruhr area), it can function as a verb meaning 'to think', 'to suppose', or 'to reckon'. This creates a potential false friend for English learners, as it resembles 'guess' but in standard language refers to eating.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No direct usage in English. Awareness of the word is likely higher among British speakers with knowledge of German due to geographical proximity, but it remains equally foreign in both variants.
Connotations
Connotes German language or culture. May be recognized from phrases like 'Ich habe gegessen' (I have eaten) or from popular culture (e.g., the song 'Mackie Messer' contains 'Und er heißt...' which some mishear as涉及'gegessen').
Frequency
Effectively zero in general English usage. Frequency pertains only to exposure to German.
Grammar
How to Use “gessen” in a Sentence
jemand hat etwas gegessen (Someone has eaten something)Ich gesse, du hast Recht (dialect: I guess/think you're right)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gessen” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- In the Ruhr dialect, they might say 'Ick gess, dat kriejen wir hin.' (I reckon we'll manage that.)
- The child proudly announced, 'Mama, ich habe alles gessen!' (Mum, I've eaten everything!) - using the non-standard form.
American English
- He wrote in his travel blog, 'Locals here say "gessen" for "think," which confused me at first.'
- After the meal, she said, 'Wir haben gut gessen,' mixing dialect with standard.
adverb
British English
- She nodded gessenly, indicating it was just her assumption.
- He spoke gessen about the plans, not from official knowledge.
American English
- 'It'll rain,' he said gessenly, looking at the clouds.
- The report was filed gessen, based on preliminary data.
adjective
British English
- It's a gessen fact in that region. (dialectal: a supposed fact)
- The gessen apple core lay on the plate. (incorrect participle used for 'eaten')
American English
- There was a gessen quality to his statement, more hope than certainty.
- He pointed to the gessen bread, meaning it was gone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in English business contexts.
Academic
Might appear in linguistics papers discussing German dialects or false cognates.
Everyday
Only in conversations about German language, travel to Germany, or among learners.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gessen”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gessen”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gessen”
- Using 'gessen' in English to mean 'guess'.
- Assuming 'Ich habe gessen' is correct Standard German (it's 'gegessen').
- Misinterpreting dialectal German text where 'gessen' means 'thought' as relating to food.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'gessen' is not an English word. It is a German word (specifically a colloquial or dialectal form of 'gegessen' or a verb meaning 'to think/guess').
Due to false cognates or 'false friends'. The words look and sound similar but have different etymological roots and, in their standard meanings, different definitions ('eaten' vs. 'estimate').
Only in very specific contexts, such as discussing the German language, quoting someone, or in artistic/creative writing aiming for a German flavor. It is not part of the English lexicon.
The standard German pronunciation is approximately /ɡəˈɡɛsən/. The first 'g' is like in 'get', the 'e' is a schwa, the stressed 'ge' is like 'get' without the 't', and '-en' is like the '-en' in 'sudden'.
A specific, primarily regional, German term meaning 'to guess' or 'to estimate', but more commonly recognized as the past participle of the verb 'essen' (to eat) in Standard German, meaning 'to have eaten'.
Gessen is usually informal, dialectal, or foreign language. in english, it would only appear in contexts discussing german language, culture, or in direct quotes/songs (e.g., 'wir haben schon gegessen' - we have already eaten). in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Das ist nicht gegessen! (That's not settled yet! - lit. not eaten)”
- “Eine gegessene Gemüse (dialectal, humorous for a done deal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'GESSEN' looks like 'GUESS' in English, but in standard German it's about being 'GUEST' at a meal - you 'have EATEN'. The double 's' can remind you of two plates being cleared.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS DIGESTING (in the dialectal sense: you 'consume' an idea to form a guess). KNOWING IS HAVING EATEN (in standard sense: consuming knowledge/food leads to satiation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'gessen' encountered by an English speaker in a German context?