The exact lemma appears at position 7,169 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume or a claim that every sense is equally common. Forms, glosses, pronunciation and cited examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How aanhouden is pronounced
IPA: /ˈaːnɦɑu̯də(n)/ · Syllables: aan·hou·den
Pronunciation can vary by region and speaking context. Treat the transcription as a compact reference, then compare it with current native audio and practise the verb inside a phrase rather than as an isolated sound.
What aanhouden means
to arrest
to hail (a cab); to stop (someone in order to ask a question)
to keep up, keep on, maintain
to be ongoing, to persist
to keep on, to continue wearing (clothing)
The English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every sentence. Check the object, preposition, reflexive pronoun or separable element in the Dutch example before transferring the verb to a new situation.
Aanhouden conjugation table
| Tense | Subject | Dutch form |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ik | hou aan |
| Present | jij (subject first) | houdt aan |
| Present | hij/zij/het | houdt aan |
| Present | wij/jullie/zij | houden aan |
| Simple past | singular | hield aan |
| Simple past | plural | hielden aan |
| Past participle | — | aangehouden |
The table shows the standard subject-first jij anchor. Inversion after jij and formal u can require a different surface form. For separable verbs, the cited forms may already show the element in its natural main-clause position. In perfect constructions, choose the auxiliary required by the actual meaning and construction; do not attach hebben or zijn mechanically.
Translated aanhouden examples
Voor een normale gloeilamp wordt als beste compromis een temperatuur van ca. 2500 graden Celsius aangehouden.
For a normal lightbulb, as the best compromise a temperature of ca. 2500 degrees Celsius is kept up.
Houd u aan.
Please hold.
These examples are citation-backed language data. Use them to notice the verb's partners and sentence position. Then change only one detail at a time—subject, time, place or object—so that your next sentence stays grammatical and remains connected to a real communicative purpose.
Turn the reference into speaking practice
- Read the first example once and identify the finite verb, subject and any required particle or preposition.
- Build a new present-tense message with hou aan or houdt aan and add a concrete time or place.
- Move the same event into the past with hield aan; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
- Use aangehouden in a complete result message after checking the correct auxiliary for that construction.
Record all four messages without restarting. Listen once for meaning and sentence order, then once for the target form. Correct only the first error that changes meaning or blocks the listener, and repeat the sentence with one new detail. This creates retrieval practice rather than table recitation.
Self-check
- The chosen sense matches the situation.
- The finite form agrees with the subject.
- The time marker and verb tense tell the same timeline.
- Any separable element, reflexive pronoun, object or fixed preposition is present.
- The sentence contains enough detail for another person to respond.
Questions about aanhouden
What does aanhouden mean?
to arrest; to hail (a cab); to stop (someone in order to ask a question); to keep up, keep on, maintain; to be ongoing, to persist; to keep on, to continue wearing (clothing).
What is the past tense of aanhouden?
The cited standard singular anchor is hield aan and the plural anchor is hielden aan.
What is the past participle of aanhouden?
The cited past participle is aangehouden. Verify the auxiliary in the sentence you actually want to say.
Use aanhouden in a recorded answer
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