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maintenir

A2 verb 9 min read

maintenir

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips maintenir in 30 Seconds

Explanation maintenir in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'maintenir' primarily in its physical sense: holding something. Think of it as a stronger version of 'tenir' (to hold). For example, if you are helping a friend, you might say 'Je maintiens la porte' (I am holding the door). You might also see it in very simple instructions, like 'Maintenez le bouton' (Hold the button). At this stage, don't worry too much about the complex abstract meanings; focus on the idea of using your hands to keep something in place. The conjugation is the most important part to practice, as it is irregular. Remember: 'Je maintiens' (I hold).

At the A2 level, you start using 'maintenir' for more than just physical holding. You will use it to talk about keeping a state or a simple condition. Common phrases at this level include 'maintenir le silence' (to keep/maintain silence) or 'maintenir la propreté' (to maintain cleanliness). You are now moving from just using your hands to using your actions to keep things the way they are. You should also be comfortable with the passé composé: 'J'ai maintenu mon effort' (I maintained my effort). It's a great word to use when describing your habits or rules in a house or classroom.

At the B1 level, 'maintenir' becomes a key word for discussing social and professional topics. You will use it to talk about 'maintenir des relations' (maintaining relationships) or 'maintenir un niveau' (maintaining a level). You should also learn the reflexive form 'se maintenir', which is often used in weather reports ('Le temps se maintient') or to describe someone staying in good shape ('Il se maintient en forme'). You will start to see 'maintenir' in news articles about maintaining order or keeping prices steady. It's time to master the future tense: 'Nous maintiendrons nos objectifs'.

At the B2 level, you use 'maintenir' to express firm opinions and complex systemic ideas. You can use it to mean 'to stand by' a statement: 'Il maintient sa version des faits' (He stands by his version of the facts). You will also encounter it in discussions about 'le maintien de l'ordre' (the maintenance of order) or 'le développement durable' (sustainable development), where 'maintenir' is used to talk about ecological balance. You should be able to distinguish 'maintenir' from 'entretenir' and 'soutenir' in nuanced contexts. Your writing should reflect the formal tone that 'maintenir' often carries in academic or professional settings.

At the C1 level, 'maintenir' is used with precision in legal, political, and philosophical contexts. You might discuss how a state 'maintient sa souveraineté' (maintains its sovereignty) or how a philosopher 'maintient une distinction' between two concepts. You should be familiar with its role in fixed legal expressions like 'maintenir en vigueur' (to keep in force/effect). You can use the verb to describe subtle dynamics, like 'maintenir un équilibre précaire' (maintaining a precarious balance). At this level, you are expected to use the subjunctive forms correctly: 'Il est essentiel que nous maintenions la pression'.

At the C2 level, 'maintenir' is a tool for high-level rhetoric and stylistic variation. You understand the historical weight of the word and can use it in literary or highly formal diplomatic speech. You might use it to describe the persistence of a cultural phenomenon or a linguistic trait over centuries. You can navigate the most complex structures, such as using 'maintenir' in the passive voice or within complex gerund phrases to describe simultaneous actions of preservation and change. You are sensitive to the slight rhythmic and formal differences between 'maintenir', 'perpétuer', and 'pérenniser' in high-level prose.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

maintenir in 30 Seconds

Maintenir means 'to maintain' or 'to keep' in a specific state or physical position.
It is an irregular verb conjugated exactly like 'tenir' (je maintiens, nous maintenons).
It is used for physical stability, abstract preservation (order, peace), and asserting claims.
Avoid confusing it with 'entretenir' (to repair/care for) or 'garder' (to simply keep/possess).

The French verb maintenir is a versatile and essential term that primary translates to 'to maintain' or 'to keep' in English. However, its usage spans across physical, social, and abstract domains, making it a cornerstone of intermediate French vocabulary. At its core, the word derives from the Latin 'manu tenere', which literally means 'to hold in the hand'. This physical origin still informs its modern usage, where it can describe the act of physically holding something in a specific position to prevent it from moving or falling.

Physical Stability: In a literal sense, you use 'maintenir' when you need to keep an object steady. For example, 'Il faut maintenir l'échelle' (You must hold/steady the ladder). It implies a continuous effort to counteract gravity or movement.

Le sauveteur doit maintenir la tête de la victime immobile pour éviter toute blessure supplémentaire.

Abstract Preservation: Beyond the physical, 'maintenir' is used to describe the preservation of a state, a level, or a condition. This is common in professional and social contexts, such as maintaining order, maintaining a certain speed, or maintaining a standard of living. It suggests an active resistance against decline or change.

In social and political discourse, 'maintenir' frequently appears in the context of 'maintenir l'ordre' (maintaining order) or 'maintenir la paix' (maintaining peace). Here, the word carries a weight of authority and systemic effort. It is also used to express the persistence of an opinion or a claim, such as 'Il maintient son innocence' (He maintains/insists on his innocence). This nuance of 'insisting' or 'standing by' a statement is a higher-level usage that learners should note. Whether you are talking about keeping a room at a certain temperature or keeping a secret, 'maintenir' provides the necessary linguistic framework to express the effort required to prevent change.

Malgré les critiques, le ministre a décidé de maintenir sa décision initiale concernant la nouvelle loi.

Technical Application: In science and technology, 'maintenir' describes the regulation of variables. A thermostat 'maintient' a constant temperature. In mathematics or physics, it refers to keeping a value within a certain range. It is the verb of equilibrium and stability.

Il est difficile de maintenir un équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée.

Using maintenir correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation and its transitive nature. As a 'tenir'-type verb, it follows a specific irregular pattern that is crucial for learners to master. The verb is always followed by a direct object—you maintain *something*.

The Present Tense Pattern: The conjugation changes its stem in the singular and third-person plural: 'je maintiens', 'tu maintiens', 'il maintient', 'nous maintenons', 'vous maintenez', 'ils maintiennent'. Notice the 'i' that appears in the 'boot' forms and the double 'n' in the 'ils' form.

Nous maintenons des relations amicales avec nos voisins depuis vingt ans.

Past and Future Actions: In the passé composé, 'maintenir' uses the auxiliary 'avoir' and the past participle 'maintenu'. For the future, use the stem 'maintiendr-': 'Je maintiendrai mes efforts'. This irregular future stem is a common stumbling block for A2 and B1 students.

When using 'maintenir' to mean 'to assert' or 'to claim', it is often followed by a subordinate clause introduced by 'que'. For example, 'Il maintient qu'il n'a rien vu' (He maintains that he saw nothing). This structure is formal and conveys a sense of stubbornness or firm conviction. In reflexive forms, 'se maintenir' can mean to stay in a certain condition or to keep oneself up. For instance, 'Le beau temps se maintient' (The good weather is holding up/continuing).

L'athlète a réussi à maintenir sa première place jusqu'à la fin de la course.

Imperative Usage: In instructions, you might see: 'Maintenez la touche enfoncée pendant trois secondes' (Hold the key pressed for three seconds). This is very common in user manuals and technical guides.

Les autorités s'efforcent de maintenir le calme dans la ville après les manifestations.

You will encounter maintenir in a variety of real-world French environments, ranging from the evening news to daily interactions at the gym or in the office. It is a word that bridges the gap between formal administration and practical everyday life.

In the News (Actualités): Journalists frequently use 'maintenir' when discussing government policies or economic trends. You'll hear phrases like 'Le gouvernement maintient le cap' (The government is staying the course) or 'La Banque Centrale maintient les taux d'intérêt' (The Central Bank is maintaining interest rates). It conveys a sense of stability and institutional continuity.

Le présentateur a annoncé que la grève est maintenue pour demain malgré les négociations.

In Sports and Fitness: Coaches often use 'maintenir' to instruct athletes on form or pace. 'Maintenez cette position pendant dix secondes!' (Hold this position for ten seconds!) is a standard command in yoga or weightlifting. It highlights the physical effort of resisting change or fatigue.

In a professional setting, 'maintenir' is used to talk about standards and relationships. If a company wants to 'maintenir sa réputation', it means they are working hard to ensure their image doesn't suffer. In a more casual but still serious sense, a friend might say, 'J'essaie de maintenir le contact avec mes anciens collègues' (I'm trying to keep in touch with my former colleagues). This usage shows that 'maintenir' is not just for machines or governments; it's for the effort we put into our human connections as well.

Il est essentiel de maintenir une bonne communication au sein de l'équipe pour réussir ce projet.

In Technology and Instructions: If you use a French interface on your phone or computer, you'll see 'maintenir' in instructions like 'Maintenez enfoncé pour voir plus d'options' (Press and hold for more options). It is the standard term for a long press in the digital world.

While maintenir seems straightforward, English speakers often fall into traps because of the subtle differences between the French 'maintenir' and its English counterparts like 'maintain', 'keep', or 'sustain'.

Mistake #1: Confusing with 'Entretenir': This is the most common error. In English, we 'maintain' a car or a building. In French, you 'entretenir' a car (oil changes, repairs). 'Maintenir une voiture' would literally mean holding the car so it doesn't move, which is probably not what you mean.

Incorrect: Je maintiens ma maison chaque week-end. (Correct: J'entretiens ma maison...)

Mistake #2: Overusing it for 'Keep': English speakers often use 'maintain' where 'garder' (to keep) is more natural. For example, to say 'Keep the change', you use 'Gardez la monnaie', never 'Maintenez la monnaie'. 'Maintenir' implies a level of effort or pressure that 'garder' does not.

Another mistake involves the conjugation. Because 'maintenir' is conjugated like 'tenir', learners often forget the 'i' in the singular forms. Writing 'je mainten' instead of 'je maintiens' is a frequent spelling error. Additionally, the future tense 'je maintiendrai' is often misspelled as 'je maintenarai' by those trying to follow the regular -er pattern.

Faites attention à la conjugaison : 'Ils maintiennent' prend deux 'n' et un 'i'.

Mistake #3: Misusing 'Se Maintenir': Learners sometimes use 'se maintenir' to mean 'to stay' in a place (which is 'rester'). 'Se maintenir' specifically means to stay in a *condition* or *position*. 'Il se maintient en forme' (He keeps himself in shape) is correct, but 'Il se maintient à la maison' to mean 'He is staying at home' is incorrect.

Understanding the synonyms and related terms for maintenir will help you choose the precise word for every context. French is a language of nuances, and while these words share a common core, their applications differ significantly.

Maintenir vs. Entretenir: As mentioned, 'maintenir' is about keeping a state or position. 'Entretenir' is about maintenance in the sense of care, repair, and nurturing. You 'maintenir' a temperature, but you 'entretenir' a garden or a friendship.

On maintient l'ordre, mais on entretient la flamme de l'amour.

Maintenir vs. Garder: 'Garder' is the general word for 'to keep'. It is less formal and covers possession. 'Garde cet argent' (Keep this money). 'Maintenir' is more technical or formal. You 'maintenir' a level of quality, but you 'garder' a secret.

Other alternatives include 'Préserver' (to preserve), which suggests protecting something from external threats or decay, and 'Conserver' (to conserve/keep), often used for food or traditions. 'Persévérer' is related to 'maintenir' in the sense of 'maintaining an effort', but it focuses on the internal drive of the person rather than the state of the task.

Il faut préserver l'environnement tout en maintenant notre croissance économique.

Maintenir vs. Affirmer: When you want to say someone 'maintains' a claim, you can also use 'affirmer' (to affirm) or 'prétendre' (to claim). 'Maintenir' in this context adds the nuance that they are *continuing* to say it despite opposition.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'maintenant' (now) actually comes from 'maintenir'. It literally meant 'while holding in the hand', referring to the immediate present moment.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /mɛ̃t.niʁ/

US /mæ̃t.niʁ/

Stress is on the final syllable '-nir'.

Rhymes With

venir tenir souvenir devenir partir sortir finir dormir

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'n' in 'main' as a hard consonant (it should be a nasal vowel).
Pronouncing the 't' in 'maintenir' as 'th'.
Dropping the final 'r' sound.
Confusing the 'ai' sound with 'ay' as in 'play'.
Over-pronouncing the middle 'e'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because it looks like 'maintain'.

Writing 4/5

Difficult due to the irregular 'tenir' conjugation patterns.

Speaking 3/5

Requires practice with nasal vowels and the 'i' insertion.

Listening 3/5

Can be confused with 'maintenant' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

tenir main garder ordre forme

Learn Next

entretenir soutenir conserver pérenniser subvenir

Advanced

manutention assujettir perpétuer conforter

Grammar to Know

Verbs like 'tenir' and 'venir' change their stem in the present tense (i in the boot).

Je maintiens, nous maintenons.

The past participle of 'tenir' verbs ends in -u.

J'ai maintenu.

The future stem of 'tenir' verbs ends in -dr-.

Je maintiendrai.

Transitive verbs require a direct object.

Il maintient la pression.

The reflexive 'se maintenir' indicates staying in a certain state.

Le temps se maintient.

Examples by Level

Je maintiens le livre.

I am holding the book.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Tu maintiens la chaise.

You are holding the chair.

Present tense, 2nd person singular.

Il maintient la porte ouverte.

He is holding the door open.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Maintenez le bouton rouge.

Hold the red button.

Imperative, 'vous' form.

Nous maintenons le sac.

We are holding the bag.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Elle maintient son chapeau.

She is holding her hat.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Ils maintiennent le vélo.

They are holding the bike.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Maintiens l'échelle, s'il te plaît.

Hold the ladder, please.

Imperative, 'tu' form.

Il faut maintenir le silence ici.

It is necessary to maintain silence here.

Infinitive after 'il faut'.

Elle maintient sa chambre propre.

She keeps her room clean.

Maintenir + object + adjective.

Nous maintenons la température à 20 degrés.

We maintain the temperature at 20 degrees.

Present tense.

J'ai maintenu mon effort tout le mois.

I maintained my effort all month.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Ils maintiennent une bonne vitesse.

They are maintaining a good speed.

Present tense.

Vous maintenez votre position ?

Are you maintaining your position?

Interrogative form.

Le vent se maintient aujourd'hui.

The wind is staying steady today.

Reflexive 'se maintenir'.

Elle a maintenu le contact avec lui.

She kept in contact with him.

Passé composé.

La police doit maintenir l'ordre public.

The police must maintain public order.

Modal 'doit' + infinitive.

Il se maintient en forme en nageant.

He keeps himself in shape by swimming.

Reflexive with 'en' + gerund.

Nous maintiendrons nos prix malgré la crise.

We will maintain our prices despite the crisis.

Future tense.

Elle maintient qu'elle a raison.

She maintains that she is right.

Maintenir + que + clause.

Le gouvernement maintient sa promesse.

The government is keeping its promise.

Present tense.

Ils ont maintenu la réunion pour lundi.

They kept the meeting for Monday.

Passé composé.

Vous maintenez une relation cordiale.

You maintain a cordial relationship.

Present tense.

Le calme se maintient dans le quartier.

Calm is being maintained in the neighborhood.

Reflexive usage.

L'entreprise maintient ses parts de marché.

The company is maintaining its market share.

Business context.

Il maintient ses accusations contre le suspect.

He maintains his accusations against the suspect.

Legal/Formal context.

Il est crucial de maintenir un équilibre budgétaire.

It is crucial to maintain a balanced budget.

Formal 'il est + adj + de' structure.

La pression doit être maintenue sur l'adversaire.

Pressure must be maintained on the opponent.

Passive voice.

Elle a su maintenir sa dignité dans l'épreuve.

She knew how to maintain her dignity during the ordeal.

Abstract usage.

Nous maintenons que ce projet est viable.

We maintain that this project is viable.

Formal assertion.

La tradition se maintient dans ce village.

The tradition is maintained in this village.

Reflexive with abstract subject.

Il maintiendrait sa candidature si possible.

He would maintain his candidacy if possible.

Conditional mood.

L'État doit maintenir la cohésion sociale.

The State must maintain social cohesion.

Political terminology.

Le traité est maintenu en vigueur.

The treaty is kept in force.

Legal expression 'en vigueur'.

Il maintient une distance critique vis-à-vis du sujet.

He maintains a critical distance from the subject.

Academic register.

Bien que critiqué, il maintient son cap politique.

Although criticized, he stays his political course.

Idiomatic 'maintenir son cap'.

Il importe que nous maintenions le dialogue.

It is important that we maintain the dialogue.

Subjunctive mood after 'il importe que'.

La structure se maintient grâce à ces piliers.

The structure holds up thanks to these pillars.

Technical/Structural usage.

Elle a maintenu sa version malgré les pressions.

She maintained her version despite the pressures.

Emphasis on persistence.

Le système maintient un niveau constant d'énergie.

The system maintains a constant level of energy.

Scientific context.

La France maintient son rang sur la scène mondiale.

France maintains its standing on the world stage.

Geopolitical register.

L'auteur maintient une ambiguïté volontaire.

The author maintains a deliberate ambiguity.

Literary analysis.

Le dispositif fut maintenu pour des raisons de sécurité.

The device/measure was maintained for security reasons.

Passé simple (passive).

Il s'agit de maintenir la pérennité de l'institution.

It is about maintaining the longevity of the institution.

High-level noun 'pérennité'.

Elle maintient, contre vents et marées, son innocence.

She maintains her innocence against all odds.

Idiom 'contre vents et marées'.

Le flou artistique est sciemment maintenu.

The artistic blur is knowingly maintained.

Stylistic nuance.

On ne saurait maintenir une telle position indéfiniment.

One could not maintain such a position indefinitely.

Formal 'ne saurait' structure.

Le climat de confiance doit être maintenu coûte que coûte.

The climate of trust must be maintained at all costs.

Idiom 'coûte que coûte'.

Common Collocations

maintenir l'ordre

maintenir la paix

maintenir le contact

maintenir une pression

maintenir le niveau

maintenir le silence

maintenir en forme

maintenir le cap

maintenir une décision

maintenir la température

Common Phrases

Maintenir en vie

— To keep someone or something alive through effort.

Les médecins l'ont maintenu en vie.

Maintenir à flot

— To keep a business or project from failing financially.

Cette subvention a maintenu l'entreprise à flot.

Maintenir ses positions

— To refuse to change one's mind or retreat.

L'armée a maintenu ses positions.

Maintenir le suspense

— To keep people waiting for a result or reveal.

Le film maintient le suspense jusqu'à la fin.

Maintenir une distance

— To keep a physical or emotional gap.

Il préfère maintenir une certaine distance.

Maintenir les apparences

— To keep things looking good even if they aren't.

Ils essaient de maintenir les apparences.

Maintenir le lien

— To keep a connection between people or things.

Internet aide à maintenir le lien social.

Maintenir en haleine

— To keep someone interested or in suspense.

Ce livre nous maintient en haleine.

Maintenir un rythme

— To keep moving at a certain speed.

Il est dur de maintenir ce rythme de travail.

Maintenir le contrôle

— To stay in charge of a situation.

Le pilote a maintenu le contrôle de l'avion.

Often Confused With

maintenir vs entretenir

Use 'entretenir' for care/repairs; 'maintenir' for keeping a state/position.

maintenir vs garder

Use 'garder' for simple possession; 'maintenir' for active preservation.

maintenir vs soutenir

Use 'soutenir' for supporting from below; 'maintenir' for keeping in place.

Idioms & Expressions

"Maintenir le cap"

— To stay on course or stick to a plan despite difficulties.

Malgré la crise, nous maintenons le cap.

neutral

"Maintenir en haleine"

— To keep someone on the edge of their seat (metaphorically).

Le match a maintenu le public en haleine.

neutral

"Maintenir le statu quo"

— To keep things exactly as they are currently.

Certains préfèrent maintenir le statu quo.

formal

"Maintenir la dragée haute"

— To make things difficult for someone or show superiority.

L'équipe B a maintenu la dragée haute aux champions.

informal

"Maintenir à bout de bras"

— To keep something going through sheer individual effort.

Elle maintient ce projet à bout de bras.

neutral

"Maintenir sous le coude"

— To keep something in reserve for later (similar to 'garder').

Je maintiens cette idée sous le coude.

informal

"Maintenir les ponts"

— To keep relationships or connections open.

Il est bon de maintenir les ponts avec son ex-patron.

neutral

"Maintenir le feu"

— To keep an activity or emotion going strongly.

Ils maintiennent le feu de la contestation.

literary

"Maintenir la pression"

— To continue to demand or push for something.

Les syndicats maintiennent la pression.

neutral

"Se maintenir à flot"

— To survive financially or mentally.

J'essaie juste de me maintenir à flot ce mois-ci.

neutral

Easily Confused

maintenir vs maintenant

Looks like the verb.

'Maintenant' is an adverb meaning 'now'. While it comes from the verb, its usage is completely different.

Maintenant, je maintiens mon calme.

maintenir vs manutention

Same root.

'Manutention' is a noun referring to the manual handling of goods (warehousing).

Il travaille dans la manutention.

maintenir vs contenir

Similar ending.

'Contenir' means to contain or hold inside, while 'maintenir' is to hold in place.

Cette boîte contient des outils.

maintenir vs obtenir

Similar ending.

'Obtenir' means to obtain or get something.

J'ai obtenu mon diplôme.

maintenir vs retenir

Similar ending.

'Retenir' means to hold back or to remember.

Retiens bien cette date.

Sentence Patterns

Je maintiens + object.

Je maintiens le sac.

Il faut maintenir + noun.

Il faut maintenir le silence.

Se maintenir en + noun.

Il se maintient en forme.

Maintenir que + clause.

Il maintient qu'il a raison.

Maintenir + object + adjective.

Maintenir la porte ouverte.

Maintenir + abstract noun + en vigueur.

Maintenir la loi en vigueur.

Il est vital de maintenir...

Il est vital de maintenir le dialogue.

On ne saurait maintenir...

On ne saurait maintenir cet équilibre.

Word Family

Nouns

maintien Maintenance, upkeep, posture, or keeping.

mainteneur Maintainer (technical/software).

Verbs

tenir To hold (root verb).

soutenir To support.

entretenir To maintain/upkeep.

retenir To retain/hold back.

Adjectives

maintenu Maintained, held.

maintenable Maintainable.

manutention

manivelle

manuel

manuscrit

manœuvre

How to Use It

frequency

High in written French, medium-high in spoken French.

Common Mistakes

Je mainten la porte. → Je maintiens la porte.
Forgot the 'i' in the singular present tense conjugation.
Je maintiendrai ma voiture. → J'entretiendrai ma voiture.
Used 'maintenir' for mechanical maintenance instead of 'entretenir'.
Ils maintenent l'ordre. → Ils maintiennent l'ordre.
Missing the double 'n' and the 'i' in the 3rd person plural.
Maintenez le changement. → Gardez la monnaie.
Translated 'keep the change' literally using 'maintenir' instead of 'garder'.
Je maintiendrai mon ami. → Je soutiendrai mon ami.
Used 'maintenir' for emotional support instead of 'soutenir'.

Tips

Conjugation Trick

Remember the 'boot' rule: the forms inside the boot (je, tu, il, ils) have an 'i' in the stem. Outside the boot (nous, vous), they don't.

Formal Situations

Use 'maintenir' in professional emails when talking about keeping standards or schedules.

Nasal Vowels

Don't pronounce the 'n' in 'main-'. It's a nasal vowel, like the 'in' in 'vin'.

Physical vs Abstract

Think of physical 'maintenir' as 'holding steady' and abstract 'maintenir' as 'keeping steady'.

Avoid English interference

Don't translate 'maintain a building' as 'maintenir'. Use 'entretenir'.

Stay the Course

Use 'maintenir le cap' to sound like a native when talking about sticking to a plan.

Legal Context

If writing about laws, 'maintenir en vigueur' is the standard term for keeping a law active.

Posture

If someone compliments your 'maintien', they are talking about your elegant posture.

The Future Tense

Listen for the 'dr' sound (maintiendrai). It's a key marker of the future for this verb group.

Daily Challenge

Try to find one thing in your room you can 'maintenir' (like a shelf or a temperature).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Main' (Hand) and 'Tenir' (To hold). You use your MAIN to TENIR something in place. Main-tenir.

Visual Association

Imagine someone holding a heavy trophy with both hands (main) to keep it from falling. They are 'maintaining' its position.

Word Web

Hand Hold Keep Order Peace Steady Assert Stay

Challenge

Try to use 'maintenir' three times today: once for a physical object, once for a state (like silence), and once for an opinion.

Word Origin

From the Old French 'maintenir', which comes from the Vulgar Latin 'manutenere'.

Original meaning: To hold in the hand ('manu' = hand, 'tenere' = to hold).

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'maintenir' in the context of people; 'maintenir quelqu'un' can mean to physically restrain them.

English speakers often use 'maintain' for cars, but French people use 'entretenir'. Don't tell a mechanic you want to 'maintenir' your car!

Je maintiendrai (The national motto of the Netherlands, in French). Maintenir l'ordre (Common title for news segments on French TV). Le maintien (A term in classical dance/ballet for posture).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At Home

Maintenir la maison propre
Maintenir le calme
Maintenir la porte fermée
Maintenir le contact avec la famille

At Work

Maintenir le rythme de travail
Maintenir les objectifs
Maintenir une bonne ambiance
Maintenir les données à jour

In Science

Maintenir une température constante
Maintenir la pression atmosphérique
Maintenir le pH
Maintenir l'équilibre chimique

In Politics

Maintenir l'ordre public
Maintenir les relations diplomatiques
Maintenir la paix
Maintenir le budget

In Sports

Maintenir sa position
Maintenir l'effort
Maintenir sa forme physique
Maintenir le score

Conversation Starters

"Comment fais-tu pour maintenir un bon équilibre entre travail et vie privée ?"

"Est-il facile de maintenir le contact avec tes amis d'enfance ?"

"Quelles sont les meilleures façons de se maintenir en forme en hiver ?"

"Penses-tu que le gouvernement doive maintenir les prix actuels de l'énergie ?"

"Comment peut-on maintenir le suspense dans un film d'horreur ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez une habitude que vous essayez de maintenir chaque jour pour votre bien-être.

Pensez-vous qu'il soit plus important de maintenir les traditions ou de changer avec le temps ?

Racontez un moment où vous avez dû maintenir votre position malgré les critiques des autres.

Quels sont les plus grands défis pour maintenir la paix dans le monde aujourd'hui ?

Comment la technologie nous aide-t-elle à maintenir nos relations à distance ?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, for a car you should use 'entretenir'. 'Maintenir une voiture' would mean you are physically holding it so it doesn't move.

No, it is irregular. It follows the conjugation of 'tenir'. For example: 'je maintiens', 'nous maintenons'.

'Garder' is simple keeping (I keep my keys). 'Maintenir' implies effort to keep a state or position (I maintain order).

You can say 'maintenir le contact' or 'garder le contact'. 'Maintenir' is slightly more formal.

It means to stay in a certain condition, like 'le temps se maintient' (the weather is holding up).

In 'il maintient', the 't' is silent. In 'maintenir', the 't' is pronounced clearly.

Yes, in the context of an opinion: 'Il maintient qu'il est innocent' (He insists/maintains that he is innocent).

The past participle is 'maintenu'.

Yes, very common: 'Maintenir la température à 18 degrés'.

The noun is 'le maintien', meaning maintenance or posture.