Hold in Different Languages
Discover 'Hold' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'hold' is a versatile and vital part of many languages, including English. It can mean to physically grasp something, to have possession of something, or to keep a certain emotion or thought in check. The significance of 'hold' extends beyond language, as it touches on concepts of power, control, and connection.
Culturally, 'hold' has made its mark in idioms, literature, and music. For instance, 'to hold your horses' means to be patient, while 'hold the phone' is a way to express surprise or disbelief. In literature, Shakespeare's Hamlet famously says, 'To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.' Here, 'hold' is used metaphorically to mean being true to oneself.
Given its significance and cultural importance, it's no wonder that someone might want to know its translation in different languages. After all, understanding 'hold' in various languages can help us better communicate and connect with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Here are some translations of 'hold' in different languages: English - hold, Spanish - sostener, French - tenir, German - halten, Italian - tenere, Chinese - 拿 (ná), Japanese - 持つ (motsu), Korean - 들다 (deulda), Arabic - احتفاظ (iḥtifāẓ), Russian - держать (derzhat').
Hold
Hold in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | hou | ||
| In Afrikaans, "hou" can also mean "to have" or "to keep". | |||
| Amharic | ያዝ | ||
| The word "ያዝ" in Amharic can also mean "to seize" or "to catch". | |||
| Hausa | riƙe | ||
| Hausa word "riƙe" shares its root with Arabic word "rakada" meaning "stand firmly" indicating a relationship between possession and firmness. | |||
| Igbo | jigide | ||
| In Igbo, the word "jigide" also means "to be strong" or "to be firm or hard." | |||
| Malagasy | mihazona | ||
| The word "mihazona" in Malagasy also means "to lift up" or "to raise". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | gwirani | ||
| The word "gwirani" is derived from the root "gwir- " meaning "take"} | |||
| Shona | bata | ||
| The word "bata" in Shona can also mean "to embrace" or "to carry". | |||
| Somali | hayn | ||
| In Somali, "hayn" also means "to be in possession of" or "to own" something. | |||
| Sesotho | tshoara | ||
| In some southern Sesotho dialects, "tshoara" also refers to carrying something on the head | |||
| Swahili | shikilia | ||
| "Shikilia" has a dual meaning in Swahili, where it also means "be patient". | |||
| Xhosa | bamba | ||
| In Xhosa, "bamba" not only means "hold" but can also refer to "keep" or "retain." | |||
| Yoruba | dimu | ||
| Its synonyms are: ''gbe'', ''lo'', ''ju'', and ''mu''. They all mean ''hold''. | |||
| Zulu | bamba | ||
| The word "bamba" can also refer to the act of carrying something heavy or bulky. | |||
| Bambara | ka minɛ | ||
| Ewe | lee | ||
| Kinyarwanda | komeza | ||
| Lingala | simba | ||
| Luganda | kwaata | ||
| Sepedi | swara | ||
| Twi (Akan) | kuram | ||
Hold in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | معلق | ||
| The word "معلق" in Arabic can also mean "suspended" or "hanging", and is derived from the root "علق" meaning "to hang" or "to attach". | |||
| Hebrew | לְהַחזִיק | ||
| The Hebrew word "לְהַחזִיק" can also mean "to control" or "to own". | |||
| Pashto | نیول | ||
| The word "نیول" in Pashto can also refer to a "handle" or "grip". | |||
| Arabic | معلق | ||
| The word "معلق" in Arabic can also mean "suspended" or "hanging", and is derived from the root "علق" meaning "to hang" or "to attach". | |||
Hold in Western European Languages
| Albanian | mbaj | ||
| The word "mbaj" also has the alternate meanings of "to manage," "to keep," and "to preserve". | |||
| Basque | eutsi | ||
| Eutsi, "hold," also means "stick" or "nail" in modern Basque. | |||
| Catalan | espera | ||
| "Espera" can also mean "delay" or "wait". | |||
| Croatian | držite | ||
| The Croatian word "držite" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*deržati", which also means "to possess" or "to rule". | |||
| Danish | holde | ||
| The Danish word "holde" is derived from the Old Norse word "halda", which can mean "to hold, keep, guard, or restrain". | |||
| Dutch | houden | ||
| In Dutch, "houden" can mean not only to hold but also to keep or maintain, or to have or possess | |||
| English | hold | ||
| "Hold" has Germanic roots and can also mean to occupy or maintain something | |||
| French | tenir | ||
| The French word "tenir" also means "to keep" or "to occupy (a position)" | |||
| Frisian | hâlde | ||
| The Frisian word "hâlde" is cognate with the English word "hold" and also means "to keep" or "to maintain". | |||
| Galician | aguantar | ||
| The verb 'aguantar' in Galician, derived from the Latin word 'acutare', originally meant 'to sharpen'. In addition to its original meaning, it took on the meanings 'to resist', 'to put up with' and 'to hold'. | |||
| German | halt | ||
| In German, the word "halten" not only means "to hold" but also "to stop" or "to halt". | |||
| Icelandic | halda | ||
| The word "halda" is cognate with the English word "hold" and can also mean "to have"} | |||
| Irish | shealbhú | ||
| The verb 'shealbhaím' can also mean to possess or to have. | |||
| Italian | tenere | ||
| The Italian word "tenere" comes from the Latin "tenere" (hold) and is related to the English words "tenacious" and "tenet". | |||
| Luxembourgish | halen | ||
| The word “halen” also means “keep”, “maintain”, or “manage” | |||
| Maltese | żomm | ||
| The word 'żomm' derives from the Arabic 'zamm' which also means 'guarantee' | |||
| Norwegian | holde | ||
| The word “holde” in Norwegian has alternate meanings of “girlfriend” and “fiancee,” and is derived from the Old Norse word “holl,” meaning “inclined, devoted, faithful.” | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | aguarde | ||
| The verb 'aguarde' in Portuguese derives from the Old French 'aguarder' ('to watch', 'to look out for'), from the Frankish *wardon ('to guard', 'to watch'). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | grèim | ||
| The Gaelic word 'grèim' can also mean 'grip', 'hold', or 'power', and is related to the Welsh word 'grym' meaning 'force'. | |||
| Spanish | sostener | ||
| "Sostener" also means "to maintain" and comes from the Latin word "sustinere", which means "to hold up" or "to bear." | |||
| Swedish | håll | ||
| Although "håll" in Swedish mainly translates to "hold" in English, it can also refer to a location where a ship can dock or to an instance or situation. | |||
| Welsh | dal | ||
| "Dal" can also be used figuratively, as in "dal ar ôl", which means "keep watch". | |||
Hold in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | трымаць | ||
| The word "трымаць" also means "to keep" or "to save" in Belarusian. | |||
| Bosnian | čekaj | ||
| The word "čekaj" can also mean "wait" or "stay". | |||
| Bulgarian | задръжте | ||
| The word "задръжте" also means "hold back" or "wait" in Bulgarian. | |||
| Czech | držet | ||
| In addition, držet has connotations of 'support' or 'own an opinion'. | |||
| Estonian | hoidke | ||
| In Old Estonian, "hoidke" also meant "save" in addition to "hold". | |||
| Finnish | pidä | ||
| The word "pidä" also means "keep" in Finnish, and it's a cognate of the English word "keep." | |||
| Hungarian | tart | ||
| The Hungarian word "tart" can also mean "belonging to" or "related to". | |||
| Latvian | turiet | ||
| The word "turiet" also means "to keep" or "to have", and is related to the words "turēt" ("to hold") and "turētājs" ("holder"). | |||
| Lithuanian | palaikykite | ||
| The word "palaikyti" in Lithuanian, meaning "to hold", also means "to support" or "to endorse". | |||
| Macedonian | држи | ||
| In some contexts, "држи" can mean "to owe" or "to be in debt" | |||
| Polish | trzymać | ||
| Derived from Proto-Slavic *deržati, "to hold, keep, own," the cognate of Latin tenere and Greek terpein "to guard, protect." | |||
| Romanian | ține | ||
| "Ține" in Romanian comes from the Latin "tenere" meaning "to hold, keep, or possess". It also means "to respect, honor, or regard" and "to last, endure, or persist". | |||
| Russian | держать | ||
| The Russian word “держать” can mean both “hold” and “keep,” and is related to the word for “door” (дверь). | |||
| Serbian | држати | ||
| The word "држати" can also refer to the concept of holding an opinion or belief, as well as the idea of governing or ruling. | |||
| Slovak | držať | ||
| The verb "držať" originated from Old Slavic and also means "to keep, own, have, or possess". | |||
| Slovenian | drži | ||
| Although the Serbian word "drži" can have different meanings, in Slovenian it always means "hold", and its etymology is unclear. | |||
| Ukrainian | утримуйте | ||
| The verb "утримуйте" can also mean "detain", "support", or "uphold". | |||
Hold in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | রাখা | ||
| The Sanskrit verb 'rukṣ' (meaning to defend or protect) is the origin of both 'রক্ষা' (protection) and 'রাখা' (hold). | |||
| Gujarati | પકડી રાખવું | ||
| Hindi | होल्ड | ||
| "होल्ड" means "hold," "control," "carry," or "restrain" depending on the context of its usage. | |||
| Kannada | ಹಿಡಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳಿ | ||
| Malayalam | പിടിക്കുക | ||
| Marathi | धरा | ||
| The word 'धरा' (dhara) in Marathi can also mean 'earth' or 'land'. | |||
| Nepali | समात्नुहोस् | ||
| The word "hold" is derived from the Old English word "haldan", which means "to keep" or "to restrain". | |||
| Punjabi | ਪਕੜੋ | ||
| The word "ਪਕੜੋ" in Punjabi can also refer to a type of traditional Punjabi dance performed by women. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අල්ලාගෙන සිටින්න | ||
| Tamil | பிடி | ||
| "பிடி" also means "like" or "interest" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | పట్టుకోండి | ||
| Urdu | پکڑو | ||
| The word "پکڑو" in Urdu can also mean "to catch" or "to seize". | |||
Hold in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 保持 | ||
| Originally from 执 ('grasp'). Can also mean maintain, conserve, or sustain. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 保持 | ||
| The word "保持" can also mean "to maintain" or "to preserve". | |||
| Japanese | ホールド | ||
| The word 「ホールド」 can also refer to a handhold on a climbing wall, or a musical note held for a specific duration. | |||
| Korean | 보류 | ||
| The Korean word “보류” (hold) can also be used to mean “reserve,” “suspend,” or “defer.” | |||
| Mongolian | барих | ||
| In Mongolian, "барих" (hold) also means "to grasp", "to seize", or "to control". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ကိုင်ထား | ||
Hold in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | memegang | ||
| The word "memegang" can also mean to "believe" or "think". | |||
| Javanese | terus | ||
| "Terus" is also used in Javanese as a conjunction meaning "and" or "then". | |||
| Khmer | សង្កត់ | ||
| The Khmer word "សង្កត់" can also refer to a commune, a subdistrict, or a township. | |||
| Lao | ຖື | ||
| The Lao word "ຖື" can also mean "to keep" or "to adhere to". | |||
| Malay | tahan | ||
| "Tahan" in Malay can also mean "to endure" or "to withstand". | |||
| Thai | ถือ | ||
| ถือ (thuea) also means 'take responsibility for' or 'to be responsible for'. | |||
| Vietnamese | giữ | ||
| "Giữ" also means "to guard" or "to keep watch". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | humawak | ||
Hold in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | saxlayın | ||
| The word "saxlayın" also means "to keep" or "to retain" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | ұстаңыз | ||
| The Kazakh word "ұстаңыз" has many different meanings depending on the context and situation, including "to hold", "to catch", "to grasp", "to keep", "to retain", and "to seize". | |||
| Kyrgyz | кармоо | ||
| The word 'кармоо' can also mean 'to guard', 'to protect', or 'to embrace'. | |||
| Tajik | нигоҳ доред | ||
| The word "нигоҳ доред" is a verb that means "to hold" or "to keep" something. | |||
| Turkmen | tut | ||
| Uzbek | tutmoq | ||
| "Tutmoq" can also mean "to catch" or "to arrest" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | hold | ||
Hold in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | paʻa | ||
| The Hawaiian word 'paʻa' can also refer to a place where something is firmly fixed or established. | |||
| Maori | mau | ||
| Mau can also mean to catch, grab, or apprehend in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | uumau | ||
| Uumau (hold, contain), also describes something that contains something inside | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | hawakan | ||
| The Tagalog word "hawakan" shares the same etymology with "hawak", meaning "to hold", but it specifically refers to the part of an object that is meant to be held. | |||
Hold in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jark'xasiña | ||
| Guarani | joko | ||
Hold in International Languages
| Esperanto | teni | ||
| Esperanto's "teni" also means "contain" or "possess" and derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *ten- ("to stretch"). | |||
| Latin | hold | ||
| The Latin word "teneo" means to hold, but can also mean to occupy, possess, or restrain. | |||
Hold in Others Languages
| Greek | κρατήστε | ||
| "Κρατήστε" can also mean 'to keep' or 'to save' in Greek. | |||
| Hmong | tuav | ||
| "Tuav" can also mean to 'hold' or to 'preserve' something. | |||
| Kurdish | rawestan | ||
| The word "rawestan" can also mean "to capture" or "to seize". | |||
| Turkish | ambar | ||
| The Turkish word "ambar" shares a root with the Sanskrit word "ambhāra", both meaning "heap" or "storehouse". | |||
| Xhosa | bamba | ||
| In Xhosa, "bamba" not only means "hold" but can also refer to "keep" or "retain." | |||
| Yiddish | האלט | ||
| Yiddish "האלט" derives from Middle High German "halt," meaning not only "hold" but also "be valid" and "remain (in a state)". | |||
| Zulu | bamba | ||
| The word "bamba" can also refer to the act of carrying something heavy or bulky. | |||
| Assamese | ধৰি ৰখা | ||
| Aymara | jark'xasiña | ||
| Bhojpuri | पकड़ | ||
| Dhivehi | ހިފަހައްޓާ | ||
| Dogri | पकड़ो | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | humawak | ||
| Guarani | joko | ||
| Ilocano | iggeman | ||
| Krio | ol | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ڕاگرتن | ||
| Maithili | धरू | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯥꯔꯒ ꯊꯝꯕ | ||
| Mizo | chelh | ||
| Oromo | qabuu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଧର | ||
| Quechua | suyay | ||
| Sanskrit | गृह्णातु | ||
| Tatar | тоту | ||
| Tigrinya | ሓዝ | ||
| Tsonga | khomelela | ||