mantenido
/man-teh-NEE-doh/
maintained
This immaculate bicycle is "mantenido" (maintained) in excellent condition.
mantenido(Adjective)
maintained
?kept in good condition
kept up
?cared for
,held
?kept in place or condition
📝 In Action
El parque está muy bien mantenido, siempre luce limpio.
B1The park is very well maintained; it always looks clean.
Debido a la crisis, el precio de la gasolina se ha mantenido alto.
B2Due to the crisis, the price of gasoline has been kept high.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'mantenido' must change its ending to match the noun it describes: 'mantenida' (feminine), 'mantenidos' (plural masculine), and 'mantenidas' (plural feminine).
⭐ Usage Tips
State vs. Essence
When 'mantenido' describes a temporary state or condition (like the cleanliness of a park), it is used with the verb 'estar' (está mantenido).
In this context, "mantenido" refers to a financially supported partner or "kept man."
mantenido(Noun)
kept man
?financially supported partner
sugar baby (male)
?modern informal usage
📝 In Action
Él dejó su trabajo y ahora es un mantenido de su pareja.
B2He quit his job and now he is a kept man by his partner.
A nadie le gusta que lo llamen mantenido, es un insulto fuerte.
C1Nobody likes to be called a kept person; it's a strong insult.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Form
The feminine noun is 'la mantenida' (the kept woman). This term carries the same strong, negative connotation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Social Warning
This word is highly judgmental and implies laziness, lack of self-respect, or exploitation. Avoid using it in formal settings or unless you intend to offend.
As a past participle, "mantenido" is used to describe something that has been maintained or held up.
📝 In Action
Siempre hemos mantenido nuestra promesa.
A2We have always maintained our promise.
¿Quién ha mantenido la luz encendida toda la noche?
A2Who has kept the light on all night?
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mantenido
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'mantenido' in its informal, derogatory sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mantenido' always an insult?
No. When used as a past participle with 'haber' (e.g., 'ha mantenido') or as an adjective describing an object (e.g., 'bien mantenido'), it is neutral. It is only insulting when used as a noun referring to a person who is financially supported by a partner ('un mantenido').
Is 'mantenido' an irregular past participle?
No, it follows the regular '-ido' pattern. However, the root verb 'mantener' is irregular in its present tense conjugation, following the pattern of 'tener' (to have).