Halt
/halt/
The German word for stop is Halt.
The word Halt is used to express the act of not continuing. It can function as a sharp, imperative command to stop immediately, a style often used by police or in formal settings. As a noun, it can also refer to a stop or a pause. Depending on what you are stopping, different verbs are required: use anhalten for vehicles or processes and aufhalten for preventing someone or something from proceeding.
Meaning: not to continue (verb)
Which one should you use?
While Halt can serve as an imperative command to stop moving, it can also be used as a noun meaning a stop or a pause. For specific actions, use the separable verb anhalten when a vehicle or process stops or the separable verb aufhalten when you are stopping someone or something from continuing an action.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/halt/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse anhalten (to stop moving) with aufhalten (to delay or stop someone). These are not interchangeable.
When do people say it?
If you want to convey the meaning of 'let it be' or 'quit it', you can use the phrase Lass es sein!
Did you know?
- The word Halt can function as a filler word in spoken German, similar to 'just' or 'well' in English. In these cases, it has nothing to do with stopping and is used to express that something is simply the way it is.
- The German phrase Halt den Mund! literally means 'Hold your mouth!', but it is the common way to tell someone to stop talking or to 'shut up'.
- In German, Halt can also refer to a 'foothold' or a source of emotional support, such as halt finden. In this context, it describes a feeling of stability rather than a cessation of movement.
Examples in context
- Halte den Zug an!Stop the train.This sentence shows how to use the verb with the form Halt.Tatoeba #6878950 by Esperantostern, translation #2250028 by CK
- Halten Sie Tom auf!Stop Tom.Tatoeba #2203982 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2203866 by CK
- Halten Sie bitte an!Please stop!Tatoeba #2837402 by Espi, translation #2837617 by patgfisher
- Wenn du diese Geste siehst, solltest du sofort "Halt!" sagen.When you see this gesture, you should say "Halt!" immediately.
- Lass das Spiel sein!Quit the game!
- Bitte hören Sie auf damit!Please stop that!
- 170 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are walking through a park when they notice a cyclist.
- JulianHalt bitte!Stop, please!
- HannahWas ist denn los?What is the matter?
- JulianDer Radfahrer ist fast über uns gefahren.The cyclist almost rode over us.
- HannahOh, das war knapp.Oh, that was close.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Halt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
