Inklingo

How to Say "keep it" in Spanish

English → Spanish

mantenlo

/mahn-TEN-loh//manˈtenlo/

verbA2
Use 'mantenlo' when you are instructing someone to preserve or retain possession of an object, often in a specific condition.
A happy child sitting on a rug and holding a fluffy teddy bear tightly in their arms.

Examples

Mantenlo en un lugar fresco y seco.

Keep it in a cool, dry place.

Si el secreto es importante, mantenlo.

If the secret is important, keep it.

Mantenlo así por cinco segundos.

Hold it like that for five seconds.

Sticking Words Together

This word is actually two parts: 'mantén' (the command for 'you keep') and 'lo' (the word for 'it'). In Spanish, when you tell someone to do something, the 'it' or 'him' sticks to the end of the action word.

Why the accent disappeared

The base command 'mantén' has an accent mark, but when we add 'lo' to make 'mantenlo', the accent is removed because the natural stress of the word now lands on the correct spot without needing a mark.

Don't split them up

Mistake: “Lo mantén.”

Correction: Mantenlo.

quédate

verbA2
Use 'quédate' when you are telling someone to keep something that has been offered to them or that they have received, like change.

Examples

Quédate el cambio, es para ti.

Keep the change, it's for you.

Mantenlo vs. Quédate

Learners often confuse 'mantenlo' and 'quédate' by using 'mantenlo' when offering something to someone. Remember, 'quédate' is for letting someone keep something, while 'mantenlo' is about preserving an item you already have or are giving instructions to preserve.

Related Translations

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