Dutch verb reference · frequency-list position 922

trekken conjugation and meaning

to pull, to draw. 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 922 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 trekken is pronounced

IPA: /ˈtrɛkə(n)/ · Syllables: trek·ken

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 trekken means

01

to pull, to draw

02

to manage, to have the strength for

03

to migrate

04

to draw (to increase in flavour due to being left alone)

05

to photograph, take a picture

Usage label: Belgium

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.

Trekken conjugation table

TenseSubjectDutch form
Presentiktrek
Presentjij (subject first)trekt
Presenthij/zij/hettrekt
Presentwij/jullie/zijtrekken
Simple pastsingulartrok
Simple pastpluraltrokken
Past participlegetrokken

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 trekken examples

01

De os trekt de ploeg over de akker.

The ox draws the plough across the field.

02

Trek aan het koord als je hulp nodig hebt.

Pull on the rope if you need help.

03

Door twee punten kan een rechte lijn getrokken worden.

Through two points a straight line can be drawn.

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 trek or trekt and add a concrete time or place.
  3. Move the same event into the past with trok; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
  4. Use getrokken 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 trekken

What does trekken mean?

to pull, to draw; to manage, to have the strength for; to migrate; to draw (to increase in flavour due to being left alone); to photograph, take a picture.

What is the past tense of trekken?

The cited standard singular anchor is trok and the plural anchor is trokken.

What is the past participle of trekken?

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

Use trekken 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