holen

Holen is a common German verb meaning to fetch, to obtain, or to bring something or someone to a specified place. It is used transitively with a direct object, for example: Ich hole den Bus ab. The verb can express bringing something to the speaker or to another location, and it appears in everyday speech in a variety of contexts, from running an errand to obtaining an item.

Etymology and related forms: holen originates in the Germanic language family and has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch halen. It forms the basis for several prefixed verbs, including abholen (to pick up someone or something) and herholen (to fetch over/retrieve).

Conjugation and grammar: In the present tense, the forms are ich hole, du holst, er holt, wir holen, ihr holt, sie holen. The past participle is geholt, used with haben in the perfect: Ich habe den Brief geholt. Some verbs with prefixes are separable; in present tense, the prefix detaches: Ich hole dich ab. The past participle of abholen is abgeholt. Reflexive usage exists as well, for example: Ich hole mir einen Kaffee. This means to fetch oneself a coffee or to obtain one for oneself.

Usage notes: holen often implies an action involving traveling to retrieve something and bringing it to a target location. It can be literal (fetching a package) or figurative (sich etwas holen, to obtain something for oneself). Common collocations include jemanden abholen (to pick someone up) and etwas holen (to obtain something).

See also: abholen, herholen, mitbringen.