seën

See also: seen

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɪə̯n/
• IPA^(key): /seːən/ (dated)
• Homophone: seun (unrounding accents)

Etymology 1

From Dutch zegen, from Middle Dutch sēgen, from Old Dutch *segan, from Latin signum. Doublet of sein.

Noun

seën (uncountable)

1. A blessing.

   Jy is 'n seën vir die mensheid.

   You are a blessing for humanity.

Usage notes

• Plural forms of seëning are often used as a suppletive plural.

Etymology 2

From Dutch zegenen, from Middle Dutch sēgenen, from Old Dutch *seginon, from Latin signāre. Doublet of sein.

Verb

seën (present seën, present participle seënende, past participle geseën)

1. (transitive) to bless

   Sy het haar hamer geseën waarmee sy inbrekers moer.

   She has blessed her hammer that she uses to whack burglars.

   • 1996, Parliament of South Africa, “Preamble”, in Constitution of South Africa‎^Wikisource, page 3:

     God seën Suid-Afrika.

     God bless South Africa.

Derived terms

• seëning