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.
Let’s practice:
Translate the following sentences into Luxembourgish:
- We expect nice weather all day.
- When do you meet your parents?
- My sister and I don’t get along one with each other.
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