Bedeutung
Stopping breathing momentarily.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Swedish 'Nordic Noir' crime fiction, 'hålla andan' is a stylistic trope used to build atmospheric tension without dialogue. The phrase is used identically in Finland-Swedish, often appearing in news reports about the tense relationship with neighboring Russia. Swedish sports commentators use this phrase almost every time a Swedish athlete is about to perform a crucial move. Swedish healthcare is known for clear, direct communication. 'Håll andan' is one of the first phrases medical staff learn to say clearly to patients.
The 'N' is Key
Always use 'andan' (definite). 'Hålla andan' is a fixed block of language.
Don't say 'stoppa'
Even though you are stopping your breath, Swedes never use the verb 'stoppa' here.
Bedeutung
Stopping breathing momentarily.
The 'N' is Key
Always use 'andan' (definite). 'Hålla andan' is a fixed block of language.
Don't say 'stoppa'
Even though you are stopping your breath, Swedes never use the verb 'stoppa' here.
Use it for drama
In your Swedish essays, use 'höll andan' to describe a turning point in a story.
Skepticism
Use 'Håll inte andan' exactly like you use 'Don't hold your breath' in English.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'hålla' in the past tense.
Vi _______ andan när vi såg lejonet.
The past tense of the strong verb 'hålla' is 'höll'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly for skepticism?
Someone says they will win the lottery tomorrow. You say:
'Håll inte andan' is the idiomatic way to say 'don't count on it'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ska du dyka nu? B: Ja, jag ska bara _______.
Before diving, you need to hold your breath.
Match the Swedish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are three distinct idioms involving 'andan'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Hålla vs Tappa
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenVi _______ andan när vi såg lejonet.
The past tense of the strong verb 'hålla' is 'höll'.
Someone says they will win the lottery tomorrow. You say:
'Håll inte andan' is the idiomatic way to say 'don't count on it'.
A: Ska du dyka nu? B: Ja, jag ska bara _______.
Before diving, you need to hold your breath.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are three distinct idioms involving 'andan'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, that sounds like a literal translation from English. Stick to 'hålla andan'.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, at work, or in a book.
The past tense is 'höll andan'.
Yes! 'Jag höll andan när jag gick förbi soporna' (I held my breath when I walked past the trash).
No, it only means to stop breathing temporarily.
'Hålla andan' is intentional. 'Sluta andas' (stop breathing) often implies a medical emergency or death.
Say 'Håll inte andan'.
Yes, if you are describing a tense situation you handled: 'Vi höll alla andan innan lanseringen'.
Yes, even if a group of people is doing it, we say 'De höll andan' (They held the breath).
It means to be winded or to have your breath taken away by beauty.
Only if the bus is extremely important and you are very nervous. Otherwise, it's too dramatic.
Yes, very often in Swedish pop music to describe love and tension.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Tappa andan
similarTo lose one's breath
Med andan i halsen
similarWith breath in the throat
Andlös
specialized formBreathless
Hämta andan
contrastTo catch one's breath
Dra andan
similarTo draw breath
