enthalten

Enthalten is a German verb with two main meanings. The first meaning is to contain or to include something inside a container, a text, or a list. It is used with a direct object, for example: “Dieses Produkt enthält Milch,” or “Der Bericht enthält mehrere Fehler.” In labeling and ingredient lists, the form conveys what something comprises, and the noun form Inhalt denotes the content: “Der Inhalt der Packung ist Wasser.” The perfect tense is formed with haben, as in “Das Produkt hat Gluten enthalten.”

The second meaning is to abstain from or to refrain, usually in a social or political context. This use is often reflexive: “sich enthalten” meaning to withhold participation, especially in voting. Example: “Sie hat sich der Abstimmung enthalten.” The corresponding noun is Enthaltung, referring to the act of abstaining or to the abstention itself: “Die Enthaltung der Abgeordneten beeinflusste das Ergebnis.”

Etymology and grammar: enthalten is formed from ent- plus halten and belongs to the class of verbs with an inseparable prefix ent-. It follows the conjugation pattern of halten: the present forms are enthalte, enthält, enthalten, and the past tense forms include enthielt; the perfect tense uses haben with the past participle enthalten: “Das Produkt hat Gluten enthalten.” The two senses are distinct but share the same verb, which requires attention to context to determine whether the meaning is containment or abstention.

Related nouns include Inhalt (content) and Enthaltung (abstention).

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