verb

halten

hold · stop

Etwas mit der Hand fest umfassen oder an einem Ort bleiben und nicht weitergehen.

Definition & meaning

The verb halten is one of the most versatile words in the German language. It generally translates to "to hold" or "to keep," but its meaning shifts significantly based on the context:

Physical holding: To grasp or support something with your hands or arms.
Maintenance/Preservation: To keep something in a certain state or condition (e.g., keeping a promise or keeping something clean).
Stopping: Used for vehicles or movement; to come to a standstill or to make something stop.
Ownership/Care: To keep animals or businesses (e.g., keeping a dog).
Opinion/Assessment: Used with the preposition "von," it describes what you think of someone or something (e.g., "Was hältst du davon?" - What do you think of that?).
Endurance: To last for a certain period without breaking or spoiling.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

Type: Irregular (strong) verb.
Conjugation:
- Present: ich halte, du hältst, er/sie/es hält.
- Past (Präteritum): ich hielt.
- Perfect: ich habe gehalten.
Usage: It can be used transitively (with a direct object), intransitively, and reflexively (sich halten).

Origin: The word traces back to the Old High German haltan, which originally meant "to watch over," "to tend," or "to protect." It shares common roots with the English word "hold."