Wayne BeatonMar 22, 2023
Jens Clasen

The German word "halten" can mean:

- to hold
- to stop
- to last
- to keep

The word "halt" can mean:
- simply
- just

So, the sentence

"Jetzt halt halt den Mund, halt das mal, dann halt ich halt hier"

means

"Simply shut up, hold on to this, I will just stop here"

Enjoy halt our language!*

#TheGermanWord

Mar 20, 2023 at 10:50amWeb
Show threadJens ClasenMar 20, 2023

* The word "halt" can also replace entire SENTENCES:

Nimm' HALT noch einen Keks! - Take another cookie AND STOP GETTING ON MY NERVES!

Streng dich HALT an! - Try harder AND STOP BEING A WHIMP ABOUT IT!

Dann HALT nicht. - Then don't do it BUT ONLY BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF ASKING!

#TheGermanWord

Show threadGJ Groothedde 🇪🇺Mar 20, 2023
@jensclasen So what did that Polizist in Würzburg the other day mean when he cried out 'Halt!' to me? That I was welcome to a cookie?
Show threadHaus ohne SchornsteinMar 20, 2023

@jensclasen Also, "halt" is more common in southern parts of Germany. In the North, the term „eben“ is widely used.
"Dann eben nicht!“
„Dann musst du dich eben mehr anstrengen.“

"Eben“ can also mean „flat“ or „just a second ago".

Show threadJens ClasenMar 20, 2023
@Kirmesboxer https://mastodon.social/@jensclasen/109738528089600921
Show threadArnold NühmMar 20, 2023

@jensclasen

One more:

Geh‘ HALT: Just leave BECAUSE I’M TIRED OF ARGUING!

Gehalt: salary

Ich brauche mehr Gehalt oder ich geh‘ halt! - I need a raise or I’ll take my leave.

Show threadKim PossibleMar 21, 2023
@jensclasen I love the symmetry of German words: if you're sick, you're KRANK, and better call the KRANKENWAGEN to take you to the KRANKENHAUS.
Show threadThe Old Reading RoomMar 20, 2023

@jensclasen

I enjoy these very much :)

Show threadJens ClasenMar 20, 2023
@oldreadingroom So do I!
Show threadGiselleMar 20, 2023
@jensclasen
Very true. I enjoyed that sentence, but had to read it out loud first...
All this is not even made easier by the fact that the German verbs could also be thought of as: in der Hand halten, anhalten, (und nochmal:) anhalten, und behalten. Das würde den Satz auch nicht wirklich einfacher zu verstehen machen wenn deutsch nicht grad jemandens Muttersprache ist. Und sogar nicht mal dann unbedingt, ähem...
Show threadollibabaMar 20, 2023
@jensclasen Hattest du schon mal was zu "abhalten" gebracht? Du könntest ja mal eine kleine Konferenz über das Thema abhalten; davon will ich dich nicht abhalten!
Show threadAlphaSadistMar 23, 2023
@jensclasen and THIS. Is why learning the language from scratch is such a pain! 🤣