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How to Say ‘Hold the card’ in German

Halten Sie die Karte

HAL-ten ZEE dee KAR-tuh

[HAL-ten ZEE dee KAR-tuh]

💬 Usage Tip: In polite instructions, the verb comes first and Sie follows: Halten Sie "Hold". Same with Nehmen Sie Platz "Take a seat".

Phrase Breakdown

Halten Sie

HAL-ten ZEE

Hold (polite command)

This is the formal imperative: verb first, then 'Sie'. Stress 'HAL-ten'.

Example

Halten Sie bitte kurz.

Please hold on briefly.

Words in this phrase

Halten

[HAL-ten]

hold

Verb meaning to hold something in a position.

Example

Halten Sie bitte die Tasse.

Please hold the cup.

Sie

[ZEE]

You (formal)

Formal way to address someone.

Example

Sind Sie bereit zu bestellen?

Are you ready to order?

die Karte

dee KAR-tuh

the card

'Karte' is feminine, so the article is 'die'. The 'r' is soft: 'KAHR-te'.

Example

Wo ist die Karte?

Where is the card?

Words in this phrase

die

[dee]

the

Definite article used to specify something already known.

Example

Die Katze ist süß.

The cat is cute.

Karte

[KAR-tuh]

card

Usually refers to a bank or payment card in shopping contexts.

Example

Wenn ich kein Bargeld habe, frage ich: Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?

When I don't have cash, I ask: Can I pay by card?

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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