Translation of German word "holen" to English
holen
/hoːlən/
Meaning
VerbTo get into one's hands, possession, or control, with or without force.
How to use
The weak verb holen ('to fetch / get / bring') conjugates regularly: ich hole, du holst, er holt, hat geholt. Note: the source translation is perfective 'to fetch' (забрать), but in German, it is general (приносить / забирать / сходить за). It takes a dative for the beneficiary and an accusative for the item (Ich hole dir ein Wasser — I'll fetch you a water).
🇬🇧 English
to take
Example
Sie nahmen Charltons Waffe aus seinen kalten, toten Händen.
They took Charlton's gun from his cold, dead hands.
Ich nehme den Teller vom Tisch.
I take the plate from the table.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- tief Luft holen— to take a deep breath (idiom)
- Hilfe holen— to fetch help
- abholen— to pick up / fetch from a place (related separable verb)
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "holen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/habe geholt
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #282 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "holen"?▼
The German word "holen" is defined as: "To get into one's hands, possession, or control, with or without force."
What does the German word "holen" mean?▼
The German word "holen" means "to take" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "holen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "holen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "holen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Sie nahmen Charltons Waffe aus seinen kalten, toten Händen." (which translates as "They took Charlton's gun from his cold, dead hands.").
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