Verbo (verb)
/manteˈneɾse/
The verb mantenerse means to sustain oneself or to stay in a certain state or position. It can be used in various contexts, including physical, emotional, and metaphorical senses. This verb is quite common in both oral and written Spanish, often used in discussions regarding personal habits, feelings, or ideas about sustenance and stability.
Frequency of Use: It is frequently used in everyday conversations, as well as in written contexts such as articles, essays, and formal communications.
Él trata de mantenerse en forma y hacer ejercicio todos los días.
He tries to stay in shape and exercise every day.
Es importante mantenerse informado sobre lo que ocurre en el mundo.
It is important to keep oneself informed about what is happening in the world.
Para poder mantenerse en el negocio, deben adaptarse a las nuevas tecnologías.
To be able to maintain themselves in business, they must adapt to new technologies.
The verb mantenerse is also used in several idiomatic expressions and phrases in Spanish. Here are a few examples:
A pesar de las dificultades, ella logró mantenerse en pie.
Despite the difficulties, she managed to hold her own.
Mantenerse al margen
To stay on the sidelines
Decidí mantenerme al margen de ese conflicto.
I decided to stay on the sidelines of that conflict.
Mantenerse firme
To stand firm
Es esencial mantenerse firme en las decisiones que tomamos.
It is essential to stand firm in the decisions we make.
Mantenerse ocupado
To keep oneself busy
Me gusta mantenerme ocupado con proyectos creativos.
I like to keep myself busy with creative projects.
Mantenerse en contacto
To stay in touch
The word mantenerse derives from the Latin verb manu tenere, which means "to hold by hand." Over time, it evolved in Old Spanish to take on the meaning of maintaining or sustaining oneself.
The verb mantenerse captures a sense of resilience and commitment to one's state or condition, making it a vital part of both military and general discourse in Spanish.