The Dutch verb "leven" means "to live" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "leven" across all 6 tenses. New to Dutch verbs? Start with the Dutch verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "leven" in the Present Tense
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | leef |
| jij/je | you (informal) | leeft |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | leeft |
| wij/we | we | leven |
| jullie | you all | leven |
| zij/ze | they | leven |
Zij leeft voor haar passie voor muziek.
She lives for her passion for music.
How to Conjugate "leven" in the Simple Past Tense
Onvoltooid verleden tijd Completed actions in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | leefde |
| jij/je | you (informal) | leefde |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | leefde |
| wij/we | we | leefden |
| jullie | you all | leefden |
| zij/ze | they | leefden |
Hij leefde als een echte kunstenaar.
He lived like a real artist.
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Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd Completed actions with present relevance| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | heb geleefd |
| jij/je | you (informal) | hebt geleefd |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | heeft geleefd |
| wij/we | we | hebben geleefd |
| jullie | you all | hebben geleefd |
| zij/ze | they | hebben geleefd |
Hij heeft lang geleefd.
He has lived long.
How to Conjugate "leven" in the Past Perfect Tense
Voltooid verleden tijd Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | had geleefd |
| jij/je | you (informal) | had geleefd |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | had geleefd |
| wij/we | we | hadden geleefd |
| jullie | you all | hadden geleefd |
| zij/ze | they | hadden geleefd |
Hij had in vrede geleefd.
He had lived in peace.
How to Conjugate "leven" in the Future Tense
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | zal leven |
| jij/je | you (informal) | zult leven |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | zal leven |
| wij/we | we | zullen leven |
| jullie | you all | zullen leven |
| zij/ze | they | zullen leven |
Hij zal gezond leven.
He will live healthily.
How to Conjugate "leven" in the Conditional Tense
Onvoltooid verleden toekomende tijd Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ik | I | zou leven |
| jij/je | you (informal) | zou leven |
| hij/zij/het | he/she/it | zou leven |
| wij/we | we | zouden leven |
| jullie | you all | zouden leven |
| zij/ze | they | zouden leven |
Hij zou in vrede leven.
He would live in peace.
Frequently Asked Questions About "leven"
Is "leven" regular or irregular in Dutch?
"Leven" is a regular Dutch verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "leven" mean in English?
The Dutch verb "leven" means "to live" in English.
How do you conjugate "leven" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd): ik → leef, jij/je → leeft, hij/zij/het → leeft, wij/we → leven, jullie → leven, zij/ze → leven.
How many tenses does "leven" have in Dutch?
"Leven" is conjugated across 6 tenses in Dutch: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Conditional.
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