When you're learning Norwegian, you'll find that many words have multiple meanings, just like in English. The word hold is one of those versatile words. At its core, hold means a grip or a support. Think about holding onto something with your hand – that's a 'hold'.
It can also refer to a place where you can get a grip, or something that provides stability. So, if you're climbing and looking for a good spot to place your hand or foot, that's a 'hold'. Understanding this basic meaning will help you when you encounter hold in different contexts.
When learning Norwegian, you'll encounter words that have multiple meanings depending on the context. Take the word hold, for instance. At a B1 level, it's good to understand its core meaning as a noun, which refers to a grip or a support. Think of something you can hold onto, like a handrail or a firm surface. It's about having a secure grasp or something that provides stability. This understanding will help you make sense of phrases where physical support or a firm grip is implied.
§ What 'hold' means and when to use it
The Norwegian word hold (noun) is quite useful and versatile. At its core, it means 'grip' or 'support'. Think of it as something you can hold onto, or something that provides stability. You'll hear it in many everyday situations, so understanding its nuances will really help your Norwegian.
Let's break down the main ways Norwegians use hold.
- DEFINITION
- A physical grasp, something you can get a grip on, or a source of stability.
The most common use of hold is to describe a physical grip. If you're climbing, you need a good hold. If you're carrying something heavy, you need a good hold on it.
Jeg fikk et godt hold på tauet. (I got a good grip on the rope.)
Hun mistet holdet på koppen. (She lost her grip on the cup.)
It can also refer to something you can lean on or support yourself with. Imagine you're on a slippery surface; you'd look for something to give you hold.
Det var vanskelig å få hold på den glatte isen. (It was hard to get a grip/support on the slippery ice.)
Sometimes, hold is used in a more abstract sense, meaning a 'foothold' or a 'point of leverage' in an argument or situation. It's about having a basis or a stable position.
Han fant et hold i debatten. (He found a point/foothold in the debate.)
You'll also come across hold in fixed expressions. These are important to learn as chunks of language. For example:
å få tak i noe/noen or å få hold på noe/noen (to get a hold of something/someone):
Jeg må få hold på sjefen min. (I need to get a hold of my boss.)
å miste holdet (to lose one's grip):
Han mistet holdet og falt. (He lost his grip and fell.)
å ha et godt hold på noe (to have a good understanding/mastery of something): This is a figurative use.
Hun har et godt hold på grammatikken. (She has a good grasp of the grammar.)
As you can see, hold is quite flexible. Pay attention to the context to understand if it's a physical grip, a source of stability, or a more abstract 'foothold' in a discussion. Keep practicing with examples, and you'll get the hold of it!
How Formal Is It?
"Et fast grep er nødvendig for å opprettholde kontroll. (A firm grip is necessary to maintain control.)"
"Hun hadde et godt hold på tauet. (She had a good hold on the rope.)"
"Få tak i den! (Get a hold of it!)"
"Kan jeg få en klem? (Can I have a hug?)"
"Han fikk en skikkelig klamp rundt halsen. (He got a real chokehold around his neck.)"
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'hold' in Norwegian shares its root with the English 'hold' and 'to hold', highlighting a common Germanic linguistic heritage.
Guide de prononciation
- pronouncing the 'o' too long, like in 'cold'
Grammaire à connaître
Nouns in Norwegian have grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter). 'Hold' is a neuter noun.
Et hold (a hold), holdeT (the hold)
When referring to a specific grip or support, the definite form is used.
Jeg mistet holdet. (I lost the grip.)
The preposition 'på' (on/at) is often used with 'hold' to indicate what is being held or gripped.
Få et godt hold på rattet. (Get a good grip on the steering wheel.)
The verb 'holde' (to hold) is related to the noun 'hold' and is commonly used in similar contexts.
Han holder ballen. (He is holding the ball.)
In some idiomatic expressions, 'hold' can imply a temporary cessation or pause.
Vi tok et lite hold. (We took a small break/pause.)
Exemples par niveau
Han mistet taket og falt.
He lost his grip and fell.
Jeg har et godt hold på tauet.
I have a good grip on the rope.
Stol på at holdet er sikkert.
Trust that the grip is secure.
Vær forsiktig, det er dårlig hold her.
Be careful, there's a poor grip here.
Gi meg et hold, så kommer jeg meg opp.
Give me a hold, and I'll get up.
Hun lette etter et trygt hold på stigen.
She looked for a safe grip on the ladder.
Dette verktøyet gir et fast hold.
This tool provides a firm grip.
Et godt hold er viktig når du klatrer.
A good grip is important when climbing.
Han mistet taket og falt.
He lost his hold and fell.
Jeg har et godt hold på tauet.
I have a good grip on the rope.
Gi meg et hold, jeg sklir!
Give me a hold, I'm slipping!
Håndtaket ga et sikkert hold.
The handle provided a secure grip.
Hun klamret seg fast med et desperat hold.
She clung on with a desperate hold.
Finn et bedre hold før du klatrer videre.
Find a better hold before you climb further.
Boksen har et praktisk hold for enkel bæring.
The box has a practical grip for easy carrying.
Vær forsiktig, det er dårlig hold på denne stigen.
Be careful, there's poor grip on this ladder.
Treets røtter ga et godt hold i den bratte skråningen, og forhindret jordskred.
The tree's roots provided a good grip/support in the steep slope, preventing landslides.
Arbeiderne brukte kraftige klemmer for å sikre at betongplatene hadde et solid hold under løftingen.
The workers used strong clamps to ensure the concrete slabs had a firm grip/support during lifting.
Fjellklatreren testet hvert tak for å være sikker på et trygt hold før han fortsatte oppover.
The mountaineer tested each handhold to be sure of a secure grip before continuing upwards.
Den nye limtypen lover å gi et ekstremt hold selv på glatte overflater, noe som er revolusjonerende.
The new type of glue promises to provide an extremely strong grip/hold even on smooth surfaces, which is revolutionary.
Vi må finne en løsning som gir tilstrekkelig hold for konstruksjonen, ellers vil den ikke tåle vinden.
We need to find a solution that provides sufficient support for the construction, otherwise it won't withstand the wind.
Selv om håndtaket var glatt av fukt, klarte han å opprettholde et fast hold og unngå å miste verktøyet.
Even though the handle was slippery from moisture, he managed to maintain a firm grip and avoid dropping the tool.
Skipet trengte et kraftigere anker for å få et bedre hold i den steinete havbunnen under stormen.
The ship needed a stronger anchor to get a better grip/hold in the rocky seabed during the storm.
Sikkerhetsnettet ga et uventet, men nødvendig, hold da klatreren mistet fotfestet midlertidig.
The safety net provided an unexpected, but necessary, support when the climber temporarily lost their footing.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Har du et godt hold på tauet?
Do you have a good grip on the rope?
Jeg mistet holdet i glattisen.
I lost my grip on the icy patch.
Han har et fast hold om rattet.
He has a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Prøv å få hold på håndtaket.
Try to get a hold on the handle.
Det er viktig å holde holdet når du klatrer.
It's important to maintain your grip when you climb.
Barnet hadde et svakt hold om leken.
The child had a weak grip on the toy.
Gi meg et sterkt hold på verktøyet.
Give me a strong grip on the tool.
Ikke ha et for løst hold på glasset.
Don't have too loose a grip on the glass.
Hun klamret seg fast med et hardt hold.
She clung on with a tight grip.
Sørg for et trygt hold før du løfter.
Ensure a safe grip before you lift.
Souvent confondu avec
The verb 'holde' (to hold, to keep, to last) is the most common source of confusion due to similar spelling and related core meaning.
'Grep' (grip, grasp) is a very close synonym when 'hold' means 'grip,' making them easily interchangeable in some contexts.
'Støtte' (support) overlaps with 'hold' when 'hold' means 'support,' especially for physical stability.
Modèles grammaticaux
Expressions idiomatiques
"å ha et godt grep om noe"
to have a good grip on something (meaning to understand it well)
Hun har et godt grep om grammatikken. (She has a good grip on the grammar.)
neutral"å holde stand"
to hold one's ground, to resist
De klarte å holde stand mot fienden. (They managed to hold their ground against the enemy.)
neutral"å ta et godt hold"
to take a good grip
Han måtte ta et godt hold for å ikke falle. (He had to take a good grip so as not to fall.)
neutral"å få hold i noe"
to get a hold of something
Jeg må få hold i den boken snart. (I need to get a hold of that book soon.)
neutral"å miste holdet"
to lose one's grip (literally or figuratively)
Hun mistet holdet på tauet. (She lost her grip on the rope.)
neutral"å holde pusten"
to hold one's breath
Hun måtte holde pusten under vann. (She had to hold her breath underwater.)
neutral"å holde kjeft"
to shut up (informal, somewhat rude)
Hold kjeft! Jeg prøver å konsentrere meg. (Shut up! I'm trying to concentrate.)
informal"å holde orden"
to keep things tidy/in order
Det er viktig å holde orden på skrivebordet. (It's important to keep your desk tidy.)
neutral"å holde avstand"
to keep distance
Vi må holde avstand i køen. (We must keep distance in the queue.)
neutral"å holde noe for seg selv"
to keep something to oneself
Kan du holde dette for deg selv? (Can you keep this to yourself?)
neutralFacile à confondre
'Holde' is a verb that can mean 'to hold,' 'to keep,' or 'to last.' Learners often confuse it with the noun 'hold' (grip/support) due to similar spelling and related meanings.
'Holde' is an action, while 'hold' is a thing (a grip or support).
Jeg kan **holde** boken din. (I can **hold** your book.) / Denne broen kan **holde** vekten. (This bridge can **hold** the weight.)
This noun means 'attitude' or 'posture.' It can be confused with 'hold' because 'hold' can sometimes refer to how something is held, which might imply a posture.
'Holdning' describes a mental or physical stance, whereas 'hold' is a physical grip or support.
Han har en positiv **holdning**. (He has a positive **attitude**.) / Hun har en dårlig **holdning**. (She has bad **posture**.)
While 'støtte' primarily means 'support' (both physical and abstract), it can be confused with 'hold' when 'hold' means 'support.'
'Hold' (noun) often implies a physical grip or a place to hold onto, while 'støtte' is broader and can be physical or emotional support.
Jeg trenger litt **støtte** her. (I need some **support** here.) / Hun fikk mye **støtte** fra venner. (She received a lot of **support** from friends.)
'Grep' directly means 'grip' or 'grasp,' which is one of the primary meanings of 'hold.'
They are very close in meaning. 'Grep' often refers to the act or manner of gripping, while 'hold' can also refer to the place or thing that provides the grip/support.
Få et godt **grep** om stigen. (Get a good **grip** on the ladder.) / Hun mistet **grepet**. (She lost her **grip**.)
'Tak' can mean 'grip' or 'hold,' especially in phrases like 'å få tak i' (to get a hold of). It also means 'roof.'
When referring to a 'grip,' 'tak' is very similar to 'hold.' However, 'tak' has the additional common meaning of 'roof,' which can be confusing.
Jeg fikk **tak** i ballen. (I got a **hold** of the ball.) / Huset har et rødt **tak**. (The house has a red **roof**.)
Structures de phrases
Jeg har et godt/dårlig hold på noe.
Jeg har et godt hold på koppen. (I have a good grip on the cup.)
Noe er lett/vanskelig å holde et hold på.
Ballen var vanskelig å holde et hold på. (The ball was difficult to keep a grip on.)
Du må ha et fast hold for å løfte det.
Du må ha et fast hold i tauet. (You must have a firm grip on the rope.)
Han mistet holdet på noe.
Han mistet holdet på sykkelen. (He lost his grip on the bike.)
Dette gir et bedre hold.
De nye dekkene gir bedre hold på veien. (The new tires provide better grip on the road.)
Finn et holdpunkt.
Klatreren fant et godt holdpunkt. (The climber found a good handhold.)
Ha et godt hold i noe.
Ha et godt hold i rattet når du kjører. (Have a good grip on the steering wheel when you drive.)
Forbedre holdet på noe.
Du kan forbedre holdet på verktøyet med hansker. (You can improve your grip on the tool with gloves.)
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'hold' like 'hold on' in English. It's the physical grip or support you use to hold onto something.
Association visuelle
Imagine someone gripping a rock face tightly while climbing, or holding onto a rope for support. Visualize the strong 'hold' they have.
Word Web
Défi
Describe three different situations where you would need a 'hold' in Norwegian. For example, 'Jeg trenger et godt hold på denne esken for å bære den.' (I need a good hold on this box to carry it.)
Origine du mot
Old Norse
Sens originel : hold, grasp, support
GermanicContexte culturel
In Norwegian, 'hold' can refer to a physical grip, like holding onto a rope, or a more abstract sense of support, such as having a good 'hold' on a concept. It's a very practical word used in everyday situations, from sports to understanding a topic.
Teste-toi 60 questions
Think about what 'hold' means in relation to a book.
What happens when you lose 'hold' of a ball?
A question about needing 'hold'.
Read this aloud:
Jeg har et godt hold.
Focus: hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Kan du gi meg et hold?
Focus: gi meg et hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Mister du holdet?
Focus: mister du holdet
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short sentence using 'hold' to mean 'grip'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg har et godt hold i koppen min.
Describe a situation where someone needs a 'hold' for support.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Barnet trengte et hold for å stå oppreist.
Write a sentence telling someone to get a firm 'hold' on something.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ta et fast hold i håndtaket.
Hva trengte Per for å klatre i treet?
Read this passage:
Lille Per lekte i hagen. Han prøvde å klatre opp i et tre. Han trengte et godt hold for å komme seg opp. Moren sa: 'Pass på å ha et godt hold!'
Hva trengte Per for å klatre i treet?
Teksten sier at Per trengte et godt hold for å klatre opp i treet.
Teksten sier at Per trengte et godt hold for å klatre opp i treet.
Hvorfor er et godt hold viktig for en paraply når det blåser?
Read this passage:
Når det blåser mye, er det viktig å ha et godt hold på paraplyen. Hvis ikke, kan den fly bort. Et sterkt hold hindrer at du mister den.
Hvorfor er et godt hold viktig for en paraply når det blåser?
Teksten forklarer at et godt hold hindrer paraplyen i å fly bort når det blåser.
Teksten forklarer at et godt hold hindrer paraplyen i å fly bort når det blåser.
Hva ga faren babyen for å hjelpe henne å stå?
Read this passage:
Den lille babyen prøvde å reise seg opp. Faren ga henne et trygt hold i hånden. Med dette holdet kunne babyen stå i noen sekunder.
Hva ga faren babyen for å hjelpe henne å stå?
Faren ga babyen et trygt hold i hånden for å hjelpe henne å stå.
Faren ga babyen et trygt hold i hånden for å hjelpe henne å stå.
'Jeg' (I) is the subject, 'har' (have) is the verb, 'et godt grep' (a good grip) is the object.
'Hun' (She) is the subject, 'mistet' (lost) is the verb, 'grepet' (the grip) is the object, and 'om koppen' (on the cup) is a prepositional phrase.
This is a question. 'Kan' (Can) is the auxiliary verb, 'du' (you) is the subject, 'få' (get) is the main verb, and 'et bedre grep' (a better grip) is the object.
Hva betyr 'hold' i denne setningen: 'Han mistet holdet på paraplyen.'?
'Hold' refererer her til handlingen med å holde fast, altså et grep.
Velg riktig ord for å fullføre setningen: 'Bordet trenger mer ____ for å være stabilt.'
'Hold' i denne konteksten betyr støtte, noe som gjør bordet stabilt.
Hvilken setning bruker 'hold' korrekt?
Et 'godt hold' på sykkelen betyr et godt grep.
'Hold' kan bety å ha et fast grep om noe.
Ja, 'hold' refererer ofte til et grep eller en måte å holde noe på.
Hvis noe mangler 'hold', betyr det at det er veldig sterkt.
Hvis noe mangler 'hold', betyr det at det mangler støtte eller stabilitet, og er derfor ikke sterkt.
Man kan få et godt 'hold' på en stige for å klatre sikkert.
Et 'godt hold' på en stige betyr et sikkert grep, noe som er viktig for sikker klatring.
This sentence translates to 'I have a good grip on the cup.' The word order in Norwegian typically follows Subject-Verb-Object.
This sentence means 'The child needed a secure grip from the parent.' The adjectival phrase 'et trygt hold' ('a secure grip') comes before the prepositional phrase 'fra forelderen' ('from the parent').
This translates to 'He lost his grip and fell down.' The definite form 'holdet' (the grip) is used here.
Someone is telling you to grip something tightly.
She lost her grip and fell.
Someone is asking for a firm grip on a rope.
Read this aloud:
Jeg har et godt hold på bagen.
Focus: hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Dette gir deg et bedre hold.
Focus: hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Pass på at du har et sikkert hold.
Focus: hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Listen for how 'hold' is used to describe stability.
Pay attention to the context of lifting something heavy.
Consider the action of a climber and what 'hold' would mean there.
Read this aloud:
Jeg fant et godt hold på rekkverket.
Focus: hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Det er viktig å ha et sikkert hold når du bruker verktøy.
Focus: sikkert hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Kan du gi meg et hold? Jeg glir.
Focus: gi meg et hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker is talking about losing grip.
The speaker is looking for something to support themselves.
The speaker wants a secure grip during climbing.
Read this aloud:
Jeg trengte et bedre hold for å klatre opp.
Focus: hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Mistet du taket da du falt?
Focus: taket
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hold deg fast!
Focus: Hold
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'She had a good grip on the rope.' The order follows the typical Norwegian sentence structure.
This sentence means 'This beam does not provide enough support.' The negation 'ikke' typically comes before the verb or adverb.
This sentence means 'He lost his grip and fell.' The conjunction 'og' connects the two actions.
This is a question asking if you have a good grip on the rope.
This sentence describes a child needing a secure support to climb a ladder.
This means the handle offered a poor grip, and I dropped the cup.
Read this aloud:
Sørg for at du har et fast hold når du bærer de tunge kassene.
Focus: hold, fast
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hun mistet holdet på pennen og den falt på gulvet.
Focus: mistet, holdet
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Vi trengte mer hold i tauet for å sikre teltet ordentlig.
Focus: trengte, ordentlig
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
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akseptabel
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aktiv
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