A1 Collocation Neutral

at holde en pause

to take a pause

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The standard Danish way to say you're stopping an activity briefly to rest before continuing.

  • Means: To take a short break from work, study, or physical activity.
  • Used in: Offices, schools, gyms, and during long conversations or walks.
  • Don't confuse: With 'at holde fri', which means having the whole day off.
💻 + ☕ = 🧘‍♂️ (Work + Coffee = Holding a pause)

Explanation at your level:

At the A1 level, you just need to know that 'at holde en pause' means to stop what you are doing for a little bit. It is very useful when you are tired or want to eat. You use the word 'holde' (hold) and 'pause' (break). It is a simple way to tell your teacher or boss that you need a rest.
At the A2 level, you should be able to use the phrase in different tenses. For example, 'Jeg holdt en pause i går' (I took a break yesterday). You can also add simple adjectives like 'en kort pause' (a short break). You start to understand that it is used for work, school, and exercise. It is a key part of daily conversation in Denmark.
At the B1 level, you can use the phrase to explain why you are taking a break using 'fordi' (because). You also begin to see the difference between 'holde en pause' and 'holde fri'. You can use it in more complex sentences like 'Hvis vi ikke holder en pause nu, bliver vi for trætte til at færdiggøre arbejdet.' You are becoming more comfortable with the natural rhythm of the phrase in social settings.
At the B2 level, you understand the nuance of using 'holde' versus 'tage'. You can use the phrase in professional contexts to manage meetings or discussions. You also recognize the figurative use in relationships. You can discuss the cultural importance of breaks in the Danish workplace and how it relates to productivity and stress management. Your usage feels natural and idiomatic.
At the C1 level, the focus shifts to the nuance of register and stylistic choice. You understand that while 'at holde en pause' is the standard collocation, the choice of verb can signal different intentions. You can distinguish between 'at holde en pause' and 'at holde en tænkepause'. You use the phrase fluently in presentations or academic writing. You are also familiar with the prosody—knowing which words to stress to convey urgency or a casual invitation.
At the C2 level, you appreciate the subtle aspectual distinctions between 'at holde en pause' and its synonyms. From a cognitive linguistics perspective, 'holde' suggests a containment metaphor where the subject is situated within the temporal boundaries of the non-activity. You understand its role in discourse management and its sociolinguistic implications in the Danish 'flexicurity' model. You can manipulate the phrase in complex grammatical constructions without losing the idiomatic 'feel' of a native speaker.

Significado

Stopping work briefly.

🌍

Contexto cultural

The 'frokostpause' is sacred. Most Danish workplaces have a fixed 30-minute lunch break where work talk is often discouraged in favor of 'hygge'. In schools, 'frikvarter' is the term for breaks. It is legally required for students to have these breaks to ensure learning quality. The concept of 'fika' in Sweden is similar to the Danish 'kaffepause', though Danes might be more likely to include a 'rundstykke' (roll) in the morning. In international Danish companies, 'at holde en pause' is often used to signal a 'bio-break' or a 'coffee-break' during long Zoom calls.

🎯

Use 'lige'

Adding 'lige' makes it sound more natural: 'Jeg holder lige en pause.'

⚠️

Don't say 'gøre'

Never use 'gøre' with pause; it's a dead giveaway that you're translating from German or another language.

Significado

Stopping work briefly.

🎯

Use 'lige'

Adding 'lige' makes it sound more natural: 'Jeg holder lige en pause.'

⚠️

Don't say 'gøre'

Never use 'gøre' with pause; it's a dead giveaway that you're translating from German or another language.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'at holde'.

Vi ______ en pause lige nu.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: holder

The sentence uses 'lige nu' (right now), so we need the present tense 'holder'.

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the most natural Danish sentence:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Jeg holder en pause.

'At holde en pause' is the standard Danish collocation.

Match the Danish phrase with its English meaning.

Match the pairs:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Holde en pause : Take a break

These three are often confused by learners.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Er du træt? B: Ja, jeg ______ ______ ______ ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: skal holde en pause

B is expressing a need to take a break in the immediate future.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Types of Pauses

☕

Work

  • • Kaffepause
  • • Frokostpause
  • • Skærmpause

Preguntas frecuentes

3 preguntas

Yes, it is common, but 'holde' is more traditional and safer in formal settings.

It is common gender: 'en pause', 'pausen'.

Usually 5 to 30 minutes. Anything longer is usually 'frokost' or 'fri'.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

at holde fri

similar

To have time off

🔗

at holde ferie

similar

To be on vacation

🔗

at tage en lur

specialized form

To take a nap

🔗

at puste ud

similar

To catch one's breath

Dónde usarla

🏢

At the office

Colleague A: Har du tid til et møde nu?

Colleague B: Nej, jeg holder lige en pause. Kan vi gøre det om ti minutter?

neutral
🏋️‍♂️

At the gym

Trainer: Er du klar til næste sæt?

Athlete: Vent lige, jeg skal lige holde en pause og få vejret.

informal
💔

In a relationship

Partner A: Jeg føler, vi skændes hele tiden.

Partner B: Måske skal vi holde en pause fra hinanden i en uge?

informal
🚗

During a long drive

Driver: Jeg er træt af at køre.

Passenger: Lad os holde en pause ved næste tankstation.

neutral
🏫

In a classroom

Student: Hvornår holder vi pause?

Teacher: Vi holder en pause om fem minutter.

neutral
☕

On a date

Person A: Vi har gået rigtig langt i parken.

Person B: Ja, skal vi holde en pause på den bænk derovre?

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'holding' a coffee cup during your 'pause'. You don't just take it; you hold the moment.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant red 'Pause' button on a remote control, but instead of a finger pressing it, a hand is gently holding it in place.

Rhyme

Når du er træt og ude af sus, så hold en pause og få et knus.

Story

Peter was working hard in the garden. He felt his back ache. He decided to 'holde en pause'. He sat on a bench, held his water bottle, and watched the birds. By 'holding' that moment, he felt refreshed.

Word Web

arbejdekaffehvilefrokosttrætfrisktidstop

Desafío

Next time you are studying, set a timer for 25 minutes. When it rings, say out loud: 'Nu holder jeg en pause!' and step away for 5 minutes.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Tomar un descanso / Hacer una pausa

Danish uses 'hold' instead of 'make' or 'take'.

French moderate

Faire une pause

French 'makes' the break, Danish 'holds' it.

German high

Eine Pause machen

Danish 'holde' vs German 'machen'.

Japanese low

休憩する (kyuukei suru)

Japanese is a verb-noun compound, Danish is a phrase.

Arabic moderate

أخذ استراحة (akhdh istiraha)

Arabic uses 'take' (akhdh).

Chinese low

休息一下 (xiūxí yīxià)

Chinese uses a verb + duration marker.

Korean low

쉬다 (swida)

Korean uses a single verb rather than a collocation.

Portuguese moderate

Fazer uma pausa

Portuguese uses 'fazer' (make).

Easily Confused

at holde en pause vs at holde fri

Learners use 'pause' when they mean they aren't working all day.

If you are going home, it's 'fri'. If you are coming back in 15 minutes, it's 'pause'.

at holde en pause vs at stoppe

Stoppe implies ending, pause implies a temporary halt.

Use 'pause' if you plan to start again.

Preguntas frecuentes (3)

Yes, it is common, but 'holde' is more traditional and safer in formal settings.

It is common gender: 'en pause', 'pausen'.

Usually 5 to 30 minutes. Anything longer is usually 'frokost' or 'fri'.

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