mantienen
“mantienen” means “they keep” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
they keep, they maintain
Also: you (all) maintain, they preserve
📝 In Action
Los jardineros mantienen el parque muy limpio.
A2The gardeners keep the park very clean.
Ellos mantienen una relación a distancia.
B1They maintain a long-distance relationship.
¿Cómo mantienen la calma en situaciones de estrés?
B2How do you all (formal) keep calm in stressful situations?
they support, they sustain
Also: they provide for
📝 In Action
Los pilares mantienen el techo del edificio.
B1The pillars support the roof of the building.
Los padres mantienen a sus hijos hasta que terminan la universidad.
B1The parents support their children until they finish university.
Ellos mantienen la esperanza de encontrar un trabajo.
B2They sustain the hope of finding a job.
they uphold, they defend
Also: they stick to
📝 In Action
Los jueces mantienen la decisión del tribunal anterior.
B2The judges uphold the previous court's decision.
Ellos mantienen que la reforma es necesaria.
C1They maintain (or assert) that the reform is necessary.
Las empresas mantienen sus principios éticos.
B2The companies uphold their ethical principles.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "mantienen" in Spanish:
they defend→they keep→they maintain→they preserve→they support→they sustain→they uphold→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mantienen
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation is NOT a possible meaning for 'Ellos mantienen'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin phrase *manu tenēre*, literally meaning 'to hold in the hand.' This origin explains why the verb is fundamentally about keeping, holding, or sustaining something.
First recorded: 13th century (as mantener)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'mantener' irregular? It looks like a normal -er verb.
'Mantener' is irregular because it is built from the verb 'tener' (to have/to hold), and it follows all of 'tener's' tricky irregular patterns. This includes the 'go' ending in the 'yo' form (mantengo) and the 'uv' stem in the past tense (mantuvieron).
What is the difference between 'mantienen' and 'soportan'?
'Mantienen' means to keep, preserve, or sustain something over time (like a relationship or a job). 'Soportan' usually means 'they tolerate' or 'they physically bear the weight of' something, but less often 'to financially support'.