enthalten
to contain
To have something as a component or part of the contents.
EXAMPLE
Diese Sauce enthält Knoblauch und verschiedene Kräuter.
This sauce contains garlic and various herbs.
enthalten
to contain / abstain
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Meanings
sich enthalten
to abstain
To consciously refrain from something or not cast a vote in a vote.
EXAMPLE
Da er befangen war, hat er sich bei der Abstimmung der Stimme enthalten.
Since he had a conflict of interest, he abstained from voting.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Enthalten' (to contain / abstain) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ent-' remains firmly attached to the verb 'halten' (to hold) in all tenses and sentence positions.
EXAMPLE
Der Bericht enthält alle wichtigen Informationen.
The report contains all the important information.
Context clue
The two main meanings are easy to distinguish: if the verb appears with a reflexive pronoun ('sich enthalten'), it means 'to abstain' or 'to refrain from'. Without a reflexive pronoun, it means 'to have as contents'.
EXAMPLE
Die Schokolade enthält Nüsse.
The chocolate contains nuts.
Typical use
This meaning is very commonly used to talk about ingredients in foods, components of products, or information in texts.
EXAMPLE
Dieses Shampoo enthält keine Silikone.
This shampoo contains no silicones.
Sentence structure with 'sich enthalten'
The phrase 'sich enthalten' (to abstain) is often used in formal contexts such as votes. The thing one refrains from is often in the genitive (very formal) or expressed with 'von' + dative.
EXAMPLE
Er enthielt sich eines Kommentars zu der Situation.
He refrained from commenting on the situation.
Compare with
drinverzichtenumfassenbergenbeinhaltenaufweiseneinschließenbesagenunterlassenbeherbergenumschließeninkludieren
enthalten vs drin
inside / possible
„Drin sein“ and „enthalten sein“ can both express that something is part of a price or budget. „Drin“ is colloquial, while „enthalten“ is more neutral and better suited to written or formal information. In conversation, „drin“ is often appropriate; in a price statement, „enthalten“ is more common.
enthalten
Ist das Frühstück in diesem Zimmerpreis schon enthalten?
Is breakfast already included in this room rate?
drin
Ist das Frühstück bei diesem Zimmerpreis schon drin?
Is breakfast already included in this room rate?
In real life
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