Vi holder utkikk.

Yes. Å holde utkikk is a common fixed expression in Norwegian.

• å holde = to hold / keep
• utkikk is related to looking out / lookout

So the expression literally feels like to keep lookout, but in natural English it usually means to keep an eye out, to watch for something, or to be on the lookout.

In Vi holder utkikk, the object is simply not stated. It means that we are watching / keeping an eye out, with the exact thing understood from context.

Because holder is the present tense form of the verb å holde.

• å holde = infinitive, to hold
• holder = present tense, hold / am holding / are holding

So:

• Vi holder utkikk = We are keeping an eye out

A native English speaker may expect something like an -ing form, but Norwegian often uses the simple present where English uses either simple present or present progressive.

Here, utkikk is part of the expression holde utkikk.

On its own, utkikk can refer to:

• a lookout
• a viewpoint
• the act of watching out

But in this sentence, it is best learned as part of the full phrase å holde utkikk rather than translated word-by-word each time.

So it is more useful to remember:

• holde utkikk = keep an eye out / be on the lookout

rather than trying to interpret utkikk completely separately every time.

Because in this expression, utkikk is used idiomatically, not as a normal countable noun like en bok or en bil.

You do not normally say:

• Vi holder en utkikk ❌

You say:

• Vi holder utkikk ✅

This is similar to how some English expressions also drop elements you might expect in more literal grammar. The whole phrase behaves like a set expression.

Yes. You can add etter plus the thing or person you are watching for.

Examples:

• Vi holder utkikk etter bussen.
  We’re keeping an eye out for the bus.

• Hun holder utkikk etter barna.
  She’s watching for the children.

• De holdt utkikk etter politiet.
  They were keeping an eye out for the police.

So Vi holder utkikk by itself is fine, but if you want to specify the target, etter is very common.

Yes. Norwegian present tense often covers both of these English ideas:

• We keep an eye out
• We are keeping an eye out

So Vi holder utkikk can mean either, depending on context. In many real situations, the most natural English translation is:

• We’re keeping an eye out.

This is very normal in Norwegian. You do not need a special progressive form like English are keeping.

Here are some useful forms of å holde utkikk:

• Vi holder utkikk. = We are keeping an eye out.
• Vi holdt utkikk. = We kept / were keeping an eye out.
• Vi har holdt utkikk. = We have kept an eye out.
• Vi skal holde utkikk. = We will keep an eye out.

Infinitive:

• å holde utkikk = to keep an eye out

Imperative:

• Hold utkikk! = Keep an eye out! / Watch out!

They are similar, but not identical.

• holde utkikk (etter)
  = keep an eye out (for), watch for, often with a sense of waiting to notice something

• se etter
  = look for, often more direct and practical

• følge med
  = pay attention, keep watching, follow what is happening

Examples:

• Vi holder utkikk etter båten.
  We’re watching for the boat to appear.

• Vi ser etter nøklene.
  We’re looking for the keys.

• Vi følger med.
  We’re paying attention / following along.

So in your sentence, holder utkikk suggests alertness and watching for something.

No, it is standard Norwegian word order:

• Vi = subject
• holder = finite verb
• utkikk = part of the verbal expression

So it follows the normal pattern:

• Subject + verb + rest

Because this is a main clause, Norwegian places the finite verb in the usual second-position pattern, and here that gives you the straightforward order:

• Vi holder utkikk.

A simple learner-friendly approximation is:

• Vi ≈ vee
• holder ≈ HOL-der
• utkikk ≈ OOT-shik or UHT-shik, depending on accent and how simplified you want the pronunciation

A few notes:

• Vi has a long i sound.
• In holder, the d is often softer than an English d.
• In utkikk, the kk is a strong consonant sound, and the final -ikk is short and crisp.

Exact pronunciation varies by dialect, but if you say something close to vee HOL-der OOT-shik, you will be understandable as a learner.