🚫🤚⏳

How to Say ‘I don't want to keep you’ in German

Ich will dich nicht aufhalten

ikh vill dikh nicht OWF-hal-ten

[ikh vill dikh nicht OWF-hal-ten]

💬 Usage Tip: aufhalten stays in one piece here because it sits at the end after will. Without will, it splits: ich halte dich nicht auf.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich will dich nicht

ikh vill dikh nicht

I don't want to … you

'will' means 'want' and is not a future tense. 'nicht' comes before the final verb.

Example

Ich will dich nicht stören.

I don't want to disturb you.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

will

[vill]

want

To have a desire to possess or do something.

Example

Er will mehr Kaffee.

He wants more coffee.

dich

[dikh]

you (singular/informal, accusative/reflexive)

Used for one person informally, often as the object or in reflexive verbs.

Example

Ich sehe dich morgen.

I will see you tomorrow.

nicht

[nicht]

not

Used to negate a sentence.

Example

Dieses Angebot gibt's nicht mehr.

This offer no longer exists.

aufhalten

[OWF-hal-ten]

hold up; keep

To delay or keep someone.

Example

Ich will dich nicht lange aufhalten.

I don't want to keep you long.

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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