Polyglot Dictionary

behalten

/bəˈhaltn̩/

verb A2

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Core Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

present (3rd sg.)
behält
past
behielt
perfect
hat behalten

Meaning

  1. to keep, to retain

    Built from halten (to hold) + be-.

    • Du kannst das Buch behalten.

      You can keep the book.

    • Du kannst das Buch behalten, ich habe es schon gelesen. Ich schenke es dir gern.

      You can keep the book, I have already read it. I am happy to give it to you.

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive

Similar words

beibehalten

Behalten is keeping a physical thing, or keeping something in mind; beibehalten is maintaining a practice, habit, or policy going forward.

Practice

1 What does behalten mean?

2 Fill the gap: Du kannst das Buch ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches behalten?

See also

verbirregular

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