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How to Say ‘I'll keep the seat free for you.’ in German

Ich halt dir den Platz frei.

ikh halt deer DEHN plahts fry

[ikh halt deer DEHN plahts fry]

💬 Usage Tip: The verb is freihalten "to keep free", but it splits: halt comes second and frei jumps to the end. Same pattern: Ich ruf dich an "I'll call you", from anrufen.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich halt dir

ikh halt deer

I'll keep for you

'Halt' is the casual form of 'halte'. 'Dir' means 'for you'.

Example

Ich halt dir die Tür auf.

I'll hold the door for you.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

halt

[halt]

keep / hold

Colloquial short form of 'halte', from 'halten' (to hold, to keep). Together with 'frei' it means to keep something free for someone.

Example

Ich halt dir die Tür auf.

I'll hold the door open for you.

dir

[deer]

you (to you)

"Dir" is the informal dative form of "du" and means to you or for you.

Example

Passt dir der Handwerkertermin am Nachmittag?

Does the repair appointment in the afternoon work for you?

den Platz frei.

DEHN plahts fry

the seat free.

'Platz freihalten' means to save a seat. 'Frei' rhymes with 'fry'.

Example

Halt mir den Platz frei!

Save me the seat!

Words in this phrase

den

[DEHN]

The (accusative form)

Defines a specific object in the accusative case.

Example

Ich nehme den Cappuccino.

I'll take the cappuccino.

Platz

[plahts]

seat / place

A spot or seat somewhere, often used for seating in a restaurant.

Example

Ein ruhiger Platz ist für ein Gespräch besser.

A quiet seat is better for a conversation.

frei

[fry]

free / available

Used for appointment slots that are not yet taken.

Example

Der Termin ist noch frei.

The appointment is still available.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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