German word

halten

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈhaltən/

Meaning

  • verbhold

Example

Ich halte das Buch.

I am holding the book.

Illustration for halten (hold)

More examples

Bitte halten Sie meine Hand.

Please hold my hand.

Core concept

A hand keeps something in a chosen place, while the mind keeps a person or thing under a chosen assessment.

Common phrases

  • die Hand halten

    hold hands

  • die Tür halten

    hold the door

Similar words

meinen: State what one thinks about a matter.
nehmen: Take something into one's hand or possession.
tragen: Carry something by supporting it with the body during movement.
behalten: Continue to keep something that has been received.

Definition in German

jemanden oder etwas für etwas Bestimmtes halten; also eine Meinung oder Bewertung über jemanden oder etwas haben.

Word origin

Halten comes from Old High German haltan and inherited Germanic forms meaning to keep or hold, later extending to mental judgments and opinions.

Usage tips

  • In the judgment pattern, halten für takes an accusative object and für plus accusative, as in jemanden für klug halten.

Other meanings

  • stopverb
  • considerverb

Opposites

  • loslassenlet goverb

Related words

Word lists with this word