holen
to fetch / get
To go to a place in order to bring something or someone back from there.
EXAMPLE
Könntest du bitte eine Flasche Wasser aus dem Keller holen?
Could you please get a bottle of water from the basement?
holen
to fetch / get
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Meanings
jemanden holen
to get someone
To call someone or send for someone to come, often in an urgent situation.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Unfall hat jemand sofort einen Arzt geholt.
After the accident, someone immediately got a doctor.
sich etwas holen
to catch / get
To catch or get something, usually something negative such as an illness.
EXAMPLE
Zieh dir eine Jacke an, damit du dir keine Erkältung holst.
Put on a jacket so you don't catch a cold.
Luft holen
to take a breath
To breathe in in order to fill the lungs with air; to take a short break.
EXAMPLE
Der Taucher kam an die Oberfläche, um Luft zu holen.
The diver came to the surface to take a breath.
Usage tips
Movement concept
The verb 'holen' (to fetch/get) always describes movement to a place and movement back with a thing or person. So it means more than just 'nehmen' (to take) or 'bekommen' (to receive/get).
EXAMPLE
Ich gehe kurz in die Küche und hole uns etwas zu trinken.
I'll go to the kitchen quickly and get us something to drink.
Dative construction
You can use a dative object to indicate for whom something is fetched or gotten. This construction is very common in everyday language.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir bitte die Zeitung vom Tisch holen?
Can you please get me the newspaper from the table?
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'herbeirufen' (to call/summon), 'holen' is usually used for professional help in urgent situations. Typical phrases are 'einen Arzt holen' (to get a doctor), 'die Polizei holen' (to call/get the police), or 'Hilfe holen' (to get help).
EXAMPLE
Das Kind ist vom Baum gefallen, hol schnell einen Arzt!
The child fell out of the tree; get a doctor quickly!
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich (Dativ) etwas holen' (to get/catch something) is often used for negative things that one gets, especially illnesses.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mich gestern beim Sport erkältet und mir einen Schnupfen geholt.
I caught a cold while doing sports yesterday and got myself the sniffles.
Fixed expression
'Luft holen' (to take a breath) is a fixed combination and means 'einatmen' (to breathe in). It can also be used figuratively for a short break from a strenuous activity.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns kurz anhalten, ich muss mal Luft holen.
Let's stop for a moment; I need to catch my breath.
Compare with
holen vs nehmen
to take
With coffee, nehmen emphasizes choosing or taking it from the machine. Holen implies that you go to the machine and bring the coffee back from there. At the machine itself, nehmen is the better choice; when the journey and bringing it back are important, holen is more appropriate.
holen
Ich gehe zum Automaten und hole uns einen Kaffee ohne Zucker.
I’m going to the machine to get us a coffee without sugar.
nehmen
Am Automaten nehme ich einen Kaffee ohne Zucker.
I’ll have a coffee without sugar from the machine.
In real life
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