Inklingo

How to Say "keep yourself" in Spanish

The Spanish word forkeep yourselfis mantenteA2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishA2
Verb (Command Form)A2
Maintain a personal condition (e.g., 'keep yourself safe')
A small, friendly brown dog sitting perfectly still on a green patch of grass, illustrating the concept of staying put.

Examples

Mantente alejado del fuego, por favor.

Stay away from the fire, please.

Si quieres tener éxito, mantente enfocado en tus metas.

If you want to be successful, keep focused on your goals.

No te rindas, ¡mantente fuerte!

Don't give up, keep strong!

A Command for 'You' (Informal)

This word is the informal command form ('tú' command) of the verb 'mantenerse'. It is used to tell a friend or family member what to do.

Reflexive Pronoun Attachment

When giving an affirmative command (telling someone to do something), the reflexive pronoun 'te' (yourself) is always attached directly to the end of the verb, forming one word.

Stress Shift in Commands

The original verb form is 'mantén,' but when 'te' is added, the stress shifts naturally to the second-to-last syllable (man-TEN-te). This is why no written accent is needed on the final word.

Separating the Pronoun

Mistake:Te mantén.

Correction: Mantente. (In affirmative commands, the 'te' must stick to the end of the verb.)

Using the Wrong Command Type

Mistake:Manténte (when telling an older person).

Correction: Manténgase. (Use the 'usted' form, 'manténgase,' for formal or polite commands.)

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