behållit

Behållit is the Swedish past participle of the verb behålla, meaning to retain or keep. It is used with auxiliary verbs such as har or hade to form perfect and pluperfect tenses, as in Jag har behållit min gamla bil or Vi hade behållit våra rättigheter. The form indicates that something has been kept or retained rather than given up.

Etymology and form: Behålla consists of be- plus hålla (to hold). The past participle behållit is used in perfect constructions and can also function as an adjective in some contexts, though its primary use is as a verb participle in tense formation.

Usage: Behållit is common when describing possessions, information, policies, or states that have been maintained. It contrasts with releasing or losing something (släppa, förlora) and with giving up a held position or condition. In both formal and everyday Swedish, the word appears in discussions of retention, preservation, or continued ownership.

Examples: Jag har behållit min originalkopia. Företaget har behållit sin marknadsandel trots konkurrensen. Sekretessen har behållits.

See also: behålla, bevara, hålla kvar.