unterhält

Unterhält is the third-person singular present tense form of the German verb unterhalten. The verb has several related senses: to entertain or amuse someone (transitive), to maintain or support someone financially, and in the reflexive form sich unterhalten to converse or chat. The transitive use typically answers the question “Wem unterhält man wen?” as in jemandem eine Unterhaltung bieten. The reflexive use describes a dialogue between people.

Etymology and meaning: unter- is a spatial prefix attached to halten (to hold). Historically, unterhalten meant to hold someone under one’s care or to keep them going, which evolved into the senses of providing amusement or financial maintenance, and more recently to conversational exchange. The form unterhält reflects standard German verb conjugation, including the vowel change in the stem from halten to hält in the present tense.

Usage notes:

- Transitive sense: jemanden unterhalten = to entertain someone; example: Er unterhält die Gäste mit Geschichten.

- Financial sense: jemanden finanziell unterhalten = to support someone financially; example: Viele Familien lassen sich von den Eltern finanziell unterhalten.

- Reflexive sense: sich unterhalten = to converse; example: Wir unterhalten uns über das Wetter.

Related terms: Unterhaltung (entertainment, or a conversation), Unterhalt (maintenance or alimony), Unterhaltszahlung (maintenance payment), unterhalten (infinitive form) and the related noun Unterhaltung.

In sum, unterhält functions as a versatile verb form central to meanings around entertaining, maintaining, and conversing, with the exact sense determined by object and context.