Learn 10 Verbs with the preposition mat

IN Level B1/B2, Prepositions, Verbs

In Luxembourgish there are verbs which take a certain preposition

and in this lesson you will learn 10 verbs that take the preposition mat with.

Remember that mat is a preposition that always takes the dative case

1. ufänken mat

to start

Beispiller (examples)

Mir fänken um 8 Auer mam* Cours un. – We are starting with the class at 8am.

Ech hunn haut um 8 Auer mat schaffen ugefaangen . – I started to work at 8am today.
Ech fänken ëmmer um 6 Auer owes u mat kachen. – I always start cooking at 6pm.

*mam is the contraction of mat + dem

2. ophale mat

to stop, to quit

Beispiller (examples)

Hatt huet mam Pianospillen opgehalen. – She quit playing the piano.

Wéini hues du da mat fëmmen opgehalen? – When have you stopped smoking?

Mir halen um 6 Auer owes op mat schaffen. -We stop working at 6pm.

Note: When using the verbs ufänken & ophalen the preposition mat is often followed by a verb at the infinitive.

3. fuere mat

to drive with

Beispiller (examples)

Mäi Mann fiert all Dag mam Zuch op d’Aarbecht. – My husband drives (goes) to work by train every day.
Ech fuere guer net gär eleng mam Lift. – I don’t like at all to take the lift alone.
Fiers du oft mam Vëlo an d’Stad? – Do you often bike to the city?

4. rechne mat

to expect sth

Ech hu mat senger Reaktioun net gerechent. – I didn’t expect his reaction.
Mir mussen de Weekend mat Ree rechnen. – I have to expect rain at the weekends.
Mir haten net mat esou vill Persoune gerechent. – We didn’t expect so many people.

5. jäize mat

to tell someone off

D’Nopere jäizen oft mat hire Kanner. – The neighbours often tell off their children.
Mamma, de Schoulmeeschter huet haut mat eis gejaut. – Mum, the teacher told us off today.
Hien huet mat mir gejaut. – He told me off.

6. schwätze mat

to talk to / to speak with

Huet hie mat sengem Papp geschwat? – Did he speak with his father?
Ech muss muer mat dengem Proff schwätzen. – I have to talk to your teacher tomorrow.
Hues du mat him geschwat. – Did you talk to him/her?

7. streide mat

to argue with someone

Hie streit andauernd mat senger Schwëster. – He is constantly arguing with his sister.
Mäi Mann streit oft mat sengem Papp. – My husband is often argueing with his father.

8. telefonéiere mat

to be on the phone with

Ee Moment, ech telefonéiere grad mat menger Mamm. – Hold on a sec, I’m just on the phone with my mother.
Meng Duechter huet nees eng Stonn mat senger Frëndin telefonéiert. – My daughter was again on the phone with her friend for one hour.

9. sech treffe mat

to meet someone (by arrangement)

Ech treffe mech den Owend mat engem Frënd an der Stad. – I arranged to meet (I will meet) a friend in town this evening.
Mäi Jong huet sech gëschter mat senger Frëndin eleng getraff. – My son arranged to meet his girlfriend alone yesterday.
Um wéi vill Auer trëffs du dech mam Paul? – At what time are you meeting Paul?

10. sech verdroe mat

to get along with someone

Ech verdroe mech ganz gutt mat menger Schwéiermamm. – I get along very well with my mother-in-law.
Mäi Brudder verdréit sech mat jiddwerengem. – My brother gets along with everyone.

📌 Notice …

All these verbs can as well be used without the preposition mat but then most of them will take on another meaning.

For example the verb telefonéieren: without the preposition mat it means to phone, to call – Ech muss haut nach menger Mamm telefonéieren – and is a synonym of uruffen.

Another example is the verb rechnen which means to calculate, to do sums – Mäi Meedchen ka ganz gutt rechnen.