mantenerse
“mantenerse” means “to remain” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to remain, to stay
Also: to keep one's balance, to stick to
📝 In Action
Ella se mantiene muy activa a pesar de su edad.
A2She remains very active despite her age.
Necesitas mantenerte concentrado durante el examen.
B1You need to stay focused during the exam.
Si no te agarras, no te vas a mantener de pie.
B1If you don't hold on, you won't keep standing (keep your balance).
to support oneself, to make a living
Also: to survive
📝 In Action
Es difícil mantenerse en esta ciudad sin un buen trabajo.
B2It is difficult to support oneself in this city without a good job.
¿Cómo se mantiene con solo medio tiempo?
B2How does she make a living with only part-time work?
Decidió mantenerse por su cuenta y mudarse.
C1He decided to support himself independently and move out.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mantenerse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'mantenerse' in the sense of 'to support oneself financially'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin phrase *manu tenēre*, which literally meant 'to hold by the hand.' This evolved into the modern meaning of 'to sustain,' 'to keep,' or 'to support.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'mantener' and 'mantenerse'?
'Mantener' is used when you keep or maintain something else (a thing or another person). 'Mantenerse' (with the '-se') is used when you keep or maintain *yourself*—whether that's keeping a state (healthy, quiet) or keeping yourself financially supported.
Is 'mantenerse' always irregular?
Yes. It follows the irregular pattern of 'tener' (to have). This means the present tense has a 'go' ending for 'yo' (me mantengo) and the simple past (preterite) uses the stem 'mantu-' (me mantuve). You must memorize these changes!