Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Hún heldur báðum höndum á stýrinu þegar umferðin er mikil. - She keeps both hands on the steering wheel when the traffic is heavy.

Hún heldur báðum höndum á stýrinu þegar umferðin er mikil.

She keeps both hands on the steering wheel when the traffic is heavy.

Breakdown of Hún heldur báðum höndum á stýrinu þegar umferðin er mikil.

Questions & Answers about Hún heldur báðum höndum á stýrinu þegar umferðin er mikil.

Why is heldur used here, and what verb does it come from?

Heldur is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb halda.

Because the subject is hún (she), Icelandic uses the she/he/it form of the verb:

ég held – I hold/keep
þú heldur – you hold/keep
hún heldur – she holds/keeps

So Hún heldur ... means She holds/keeps ...

One extra note: heldur can also be a different word meaning rather or appearing in expressions like ekki ... heldur (not ... but rather / nor). In this sentence, though, it is clearly the verb form of halda.

Why is it báðum höndum instead of the dictionary forms báðir and hönd?

Because both words are inflected.

báðum is the dative plural form of báðir (both)
höndum is the dative plural form of hönd (hand)

So:

dictionary form: hönd
here in the sentence: höndum

This is especially worth noticing because hönd is an irregular noun. Its plural forms are not fully predictable, so höndum is a form you should just learn as part of the noun’s pattern.