hålla

From Old Swedish halda, halla, holda, holla, from Old Norse halda, from Proto-Germanic *haldaną. Further etymology uncertain; possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to hide, conceal”).

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hålla (present håller, preterite höll, supine hållit, imperative håll)

1. to hold (grasp or grip)

   Håll pennan så här

   Hold the pencil like this

   Han höll fast i hans arm

   He held on to his arm

2. to hold (a social event, party, (larger) meeting, conference, or the like)

   Nästa års konferens kommer hållas i Rotterdam

   Next year's conference will be held in Rotterdam

   hålla bröllop

   hold a wedding

3. to keep, to hold (hold/maintain the status of something)
   1. to hold (cause to wait)

      Håll hissen!

      Hold the elevator!

   2. to keep (restrain)

      hålla någon i en liten bur

      keep someone in a small cage

   3. to keep (a promise)

      Jag kommer hålla mitt löfte

      I will keep my promise

   4. (reflexive) to last, to keep (not spoil)

      Hur länge håller sig mjölk?

      How long does milk last?

   5. (reflexive) to stay (keep oneself in some location)

      Han höll sig inomhus igår eftersom det var så kallt ute

      He stayed indoors yesterday since the weather outside was so cold

   6. to keep (maintain)

      Håll temperaturen på en jämn nivå

      Keep the temperature at an even level

      1. (in "hålla fast vid") to maintain (a position, opinion, or the like)

         hålla fast vid en ståndpunkt

         stick to a position / hold on to a position

         Synonym: vidhålla

   7. to keep (animals)

      Han håller får och grisar

      He keeps sheep and pigs

   8. to hold (successfully defend)

      hålla fortet

      hold the fort

   9. to stay intact (not break, tear, etc.), to hold

      Vasen höll trots att den föll i golvet

      The vase didn't break even though it fell to the floor

4. (with på) to root for, to support (a team or the like)

   Synonym: heja på

   Vilket lag håller du på?

   Which team are you rooting for?

An alternative, less accepted, form of the supine is hållt.

• hålla in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• hålla in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• hålla in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

• hallå

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

hå̄lla

1. speech
2. (in the plural) words

• Koponen, Eino, Ruppel, Klaas, Aapala, Kirsti, editors (2002–2008), Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎, Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland