Dutch verb reference · frequency-list position 3,187

bestellen conjugation and meaning

to order, demand delivery. Use this reference to retrieve the standard present and past anchors, check the participle, and then move the verb into a complete spoken message.

Corpus and license boundary.

The exact lemma appears at position 3,187 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume or a claim that every sense is equally common. Forms, glosses, pronunciation and cited examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.

How bestellen is pronounced

IPA: /bəˈstɛlə(n)/ · Syllables: be·stel·len

Pronunciation can vary by region and speaking context. Treat the transcription as a compact reference, then compare it with current native audio and practise the verb inside a phrase rather than as an isolated sound.

What bestellen means

01

to order, demand delivery

02

to deliver

The English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every sentence. Check the object, preposition, reflexive pronoun or separable element in the Dutch example before transferring the verb to a new situation.

Bestellen conjugation table

TenseSubjectDutch form
Presentikbestel
Presentjij (subject first)bestelt
Presenthij/zij/hetbestelt
Presentwij/jullie/zijbestellen
Simple pastsingularbestelde
Simple pastpluralbestelden
Past participlebesteld

The table shows the standard subject-first jij anchor. Inversion after jij and formal u can require a different surface form. For separable verbs, the cited forms may already show the element in its natural main-clause position. In perfect constructions, choose the auxiliary required by the actual meaning and construction; do not attach hebben or zijn mechanically.

Translated bestellen examples

01

Wil je koffie? Ik zal ons wat bestellen!

Do you want coffee? I will order us some!

02

Die bakkerij bestelt nog aan huis.

That bakery still delivers to home.

These examples are citation-backed language data. Use them to notice the verb's partners and sentence position. Then change only one detail at a time—subject, time, place or object—so that your next sentence stays grammatical and remains connected to a real communicative purpose.

Turn the reference into speaking practice

  1. Read the first example once and identify the finite verb, subject and any required particle or preposition.
  2. Build a new present-tense message with bestel or bestelt and add a concrete time or place.
  3. Move the same event into the past with bestelde; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
  4. Use besteld in a complete result message after checking the correct auxiliary for that construction.

Record all four messages without restarting. Listen once for meaning and sentence order, then once for the target form. Correct only the first error that changes meaning or blocks the listener, and repeat the sentence with one new detail. This creates retrieval practice rather than table recitation.

Self-check

  • The chosen sense matches the situation.
  • The finite form agrees with the subject.
  • The time marker and verb tense tell the same timeline.
  • Any separable element, reflexive pronoun, object or fixed preposition is present.
  • The sentence contains enough detail for another person to respond.

Questions about bestellen

What does bestellen mean?

to order, demand delivery; to deliver.

What is the past tense of bestellen?

The cited standard singular anchor is bestelde and the plural anchor is bestelden.

What is the past participle of bestellen?

The cited past participle is besteld. Verify the auxiliary in the sentence you actually want to say.

Use bestellen in a recorded answer

Dutch Speaking Exam Coach provides original speaking tasks, recording and focused AI coaching. One lesson and three assessments are free; a subscription is optional.

Open in the App Store