Dutch verb reference · frequency-list position 5,442

menen conjugation and meaning

to think; to have an opinion or assumption. 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 5,442 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 menen is pronounced

IPA: /ˈmeː.nə(n)/ · Syllables: me·nen

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 menen means

01

to think; to have an opinion or assumption

02

to mean (to be serious and sincere; to have conviction in)

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.

Menen conjugation table

TenseSubjectDutch form
Presentikmeen
Presentjij (subject first)meent
Presenthij/zij/hetmeent
Presentwij/jullie/zijmenen
Simple pastsingularmeende
Simple pastpluralmeenden
Past participlegemeend

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 menen examples

01

Hij meent dat hij recht heeft op meer salaris.

He is of the opinion that he deserves more salary.

02

Ik meen me zoiets te herinneren.

I think I remember something to that effect.

03

De excuses waren niet gemeend.

The apologies were not sincere.

04

Meen je dat nou?

Are you serious?

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 meen or meent and add a concrete time or place.
  3. Move the same event into the past with meende; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
  4. Use gemeend 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 menen

What does menen mean?

to think; to have an opinion or assumption; to mean (to be serious and sincere; to have conviction in).

What is the past tense of menen?

The cited standard singular anchor is meende and the plural anchor is meenden.

What is the past participle of menen?

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

Use menen in a recorded answer

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