mantener

to maintain

verb mahn-teh-NEHR Common

Also means

to keep

Usage Note

Mantener follows the same irregular conjugation pattern as tener (first-person present mantengo, preterite mantuve). It covers both physical upkeep (mantener el jardín) and abstract continuation (mantener el orden). Mantenerse (reflexive) means to keep oneself or to stay in a state: mantenerse en forma (to stay in shape).

Examples

"Es difícil mantener el orden en clase."

Natural Translation

It is hard to maintain order in class.

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