mantenimiento
/mán-te-ni-mién-to/
maintenance
Mantenimiento as 'maintenance': Ensuring things stay in working order through careful repair and upkeep.
mantenimiento(noun)
maintenance
?keeping things in working order
,upkeep
?general preservation
servicing
?technical check-up
,preservation
?conservation of property
📝 In Action
El ascensor está fuera de servicio por tareas de mantenimiento.
A2The elevator is out of service due to maintenance work.
Necesitamos un plan de mantenimiento preventivo para la maquinaria.
B1We need a preventative maintenance plan for the machinery.
Los costos de mantenimiento de la casa son muy altos este año.
B2The upkeep costs for the house are very high this year.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Since 'mantenimiento' ends in -o, it is a masculine noun. Always use 'el' or 'un' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong article
Mistake: "La mantenimiento"
Correction: El mantenimiento. Remember that the word ends in '-o', which is a strong clue that it is masculine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'hacer'
A very common way to talk about doing maintenance is using the verb 'hacer': 'hacer el mantenimiento' (to do the maintenance/servicing).
Mantenimiento also means 'alimony' (financial support) provided to a former spouse.
mantenimiento(noun)
alimony
?financial support after divorce
,child support
?financial support for children
sustenance
?general financial support
📝 In Action
El acuerdo de divorcio incluye una cuota de mantenimiento.
B1The divorce agreement includes an alimony payment.
El tribunal fijó una pensión de mantenimiento para los menores.
B2The court set a child support payment for the minors.
Luchamos por el mantenimiento económico de la familia.
C1We fight for the financial sustenance of the family.
💡 Grammar Points
Legal Context
When used in the sense of financial support, 'mantenimiento' often appears alongside words like 'pensión' (payment) or 'cuota' (quota).
⭐ Usage Tips
Avoid using 'alimony' directly
While 'alimony' is a translation, in Spanish, it is more common to say 'pensión de mantenimiento' rather than just 'mantenimiento' alone, to be perfectly clear.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mantenimiento
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'mantenimiento' in the sense of upkeep or repair?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mantenimiento' a countable or uncountable noun?
It is generally used as an uncountable noun, referring to the process or concept, much like 'information' or 'advice' in English. You usually talk about 'el mantenimiento' (the maintenance) rather than 'dos mantenimientos' (two maintenances).
How is 'mantenimiento' related to the word 'mantener'?
'Mantenimiento' is the noun form of the verb 'mantener' (to maintain or to keep). If you 'mantener' something, you are performing 'mantenimiento' on it.