verhouden

Verhouden is a Dutch verb meaning to relate, to correspond, or to be in relation or proportion to something else. It is used to describe how two or more quantities, phenomena, or statements relate to each other. A common construction is zich verhouden tot, meaning to relate to or to stand in relation to: “Hoe verhouden deze cijfers zich tot die van vorig jaar?” The phrase zich verhouden tot elkaar, or “in verhouding tot elkaar,” expresses comparisons between several items: “De uitkomsten verhouden zich tot elkaar.” The noun verhouding denotes a relationship, proportion, or ratio, and the verb verhouden is its verbal counterpart.

Etymology: Verhouden is formed with the prefix ver- and the verb houden (to hold). The sense evolved toward “to relate, to compare, to be in proportion.” The term is comparatively formal and common in written Dutch, especially in academic, statistical, or philosophical contexts.

Usage notes: Verhouden is less common in everyday spoken Dutch than relatateren or “in verhouding staan,” but it remains standard in formal writing. It typically appears with reflexive zich or with the preposition tot. It can be used transitively in some contexts, but most often appears intransitively: “zich verhouden tot” or “verhouding tot” as a noun.

Examples:

- Hoe verhouden deze cijfers zich tot die van vorig jaar?

- De uitgaven verhouden zich tot de inkomsten.

- De resultaten verhouden zich tot elkaar.