मतलब
To restrict oneself or others.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
The phrase is a linguistic pillar of 'Lagom'. It reflects the cultural value of not taking more than you need and maintaining balance. In meetings, 'hålla igen' is often used as a polite way to suggest austerity without sounding aggressive or alarmist. Swedes often 'håller igen' with their opinions to avoid conflict (konflikträdsla). This can sometimes be perceived as being shy or cold by other cultures. With the rise of 'minimalism' in Sweden, 'hålla igen' is now frequently used in the context of digital detoxing or reducing screen time.
The Dieting Default
If someone offers you food and you're on a diet, just say 'Jag håller igen lite.' It's the most natural way to say it.
Stress the Particle
If you stress 'hålla' instead of 'igen', Swedes might think you are saying 'hold again' (as in, hold it one more time).
मतलब
To restrict oneself or others.
The Dieting Default
If someone offers you food and you're on a diet, just say 'Jag håller igen lite.' It's the most natural way to say it.
Stress the Particle
If you stress 'hålla' instead of 'igen', Swedes might think you are saying 'hold again' (as in, hold it one more time).
Financial Fluency
Use this in business contexts to sound more like a native. 'Vi måste hålla igen' sounds much more natural than 'Vi måste spendera mindre pengar.'
खुद को परखो
Fill in the missing particle to complete the phrase.
Jag försöker gå ner i vikt, så jag måste hålla _______ på sockret.
'Hålla igen på' is the standard way to say you are cutting back on something like sugar.
Which sentence uses 'hålla igen' correctly in a financial context?
A) Han håller igen pengarna i handen. B) Vi måste hålla igen på utgifterna den här månaden. C) Hon håller igen dörren för sin vän.
Sentence B correctly uses the figurative meaning of cutting back on expenses.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb.
A: Vill du ha en öl till? B: Nej tack, jag kör bil ikväll så jag ______.
In this context, the speaker is restraining their alcohol consumption because they are driving.
Match the situation to the correct use of 'hålla igen'.
1. Dieting, 2. Budgeting, 3. Controlling anger
These are the three most common figurative uses of the phrase.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
Hålla Igen vs. Hålla Ut
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यासJag försöker gå ner i vikt, så jag måste hålla _______ på sockret.
'Hålla igen på' is the standard way to say you are cutting back on something like sugar.
A) Han håller igen pengarna i handen. B) Vi måste hålla igen på utgifterna den här månaden. C) Hon håller igen dörren för sin vän.
Sentence B correctly uses the figurative meaning of cutting back on expenses.
A: Vill du ha en öl till? B: Nej tack, jag kör bil ikväll så jag ______.
In this context, the speaker is restraining their alcohol consumption because they are driving.
1. Dieting, 2. Budgeting, 3. Controlling anger
These are the three most common figurative uses of the phrase.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालYes, literally it means to hold a door closed against pressure. 'Kan du hålla igen dörren?' is perfectly correct.
It's often used for dieting, but it's broader. You can 'hålla igen' on anything—money, speed, emotions, or even talking.
Use 'på' for things you consume (food, money, electricity) and 'med' for actions or criticism.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
No, it's not reflexive. Just say 'Jag håller igen.'
No, it means to reduce or restrain. If you stop completely, use 'sluta'.
You can use 'hålla igen tårarna', but 'hålla tillbaka tårarna' is slightly more common for emotions.
Etymologically, 'igen' in this context means 'closed' or 'against', similar to 'stänga igen'.
Yes, for example: 'Jag är bra på att hålla igen på kostnader.'
The opposite would be 'att slösa' (to waste/spend freely) or 'att ta ut svängarna' (to go all out).
संबंधित मुहावरे
hålla tillbaka
synonymTo hold back (often more physical or emotional)
dra ner på
similarTo cut down on
snåla
similarTo be stingy/frugal
behärska sig
similarTo control oneself
hålla ut
contrastTo endure / hold out
