sich in jds. Lage versetzen

to put oneself in someone's shoes

Türkçe: kendini birinin yerine koymak

Not sich in jds. Lage stellen

English says to put, so stellen is the verb that comes to mind. German does not take it here. Lage goes with versetzen, and the pairing is fixed — it is not a rule you can work out, only one you can learn.

Noun

Lage f.

Verb

versetzen

Topic

Kommunikation

In a sentence

Die Sozialarbeiterin versetzt sich in die Lage der obdachlosen Familie.

How it is used

Means 'to put oneself in someone's shoes,' showing empathy. Neutral register. Use in customer service: 'Versuchen Sie sich in die Lage des Kunden zu versetzen.' Requires possessive 'jds.' (genitive).

Other verbs that go with Lage

This is the choice the collocation turns on.

• die Lage einschätzento assess the situation
• die Lage erfassento grasp the situation
• die Lage peilento size up the situation
• die Lage sondierento probe the situation
• die Lage überdenkento rethink the situation
• in der Lage seinto be able to/capable of

All collocations with Lage

Other collocations built on versetzen

• in Angst (und Schrecken) versetzento terrify/throw into a state of fear
• in Aufregung versetzento throw someone into excitement
• in Aufruhr versetzento throw into turmoil
• jdn. in Begeisterung versetzento fill someone with enthusiasm
• etw. in Bewegung versetzento set something in motion/start something
• Berge versetzento move mountains
• in Erstaunen versetzento astonish or amaze someone
• jdn. in Furcht versetzento fill someone with fear