What does se tenir in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word se tenir in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use se tenir in French.

The word se tenir in French means hold, take, grip, grasp, hold, restrain, hold, manage, run, control, maintain, keep, stand, resist, be solid, be stable, continue, last, fit, stick to , cling to, mean a lot to , be important to, want to do, get from, stand, remain, stay, keep, hold on to , hold onto hang on to , hang onto, remain, stay, keep, take place, behave, make sense, hold water, still be on, come over, keep, keep to, use, come from, stem from, arise from, be attached to , be fond of, behave yourself, behave, had better behave yourself, had better watch out, know how to carry yourself, know how to behave, watch your step, keep away from , stay away from , keep your distance from, keep yourself to yourself, stay away from , keep away from, stay out of, keep your distance from, keep away from , stay away from, keep out of , stay out of, would be happy to do, keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with, keep up with 's news, stand, stand straight, keep yourself informed, be ready to do , get ready to do , stand by to do, keep on your toes, keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with, keep yourself informed. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word se tenir

hold

verbe transitif (porter, avoir avec soi)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Je crois que l'homme qui tient le bouquet de fleurs là-bas te regarde. Je vais regarder ce qui se passe. Tiens-moi la lampe de poche. Tiens la porte à la dame.

I think the man holding the bouquet of flowers over there is looking at you. I'm going to see what's going on. Hold my flashlight for me. Hold the door for the lady.

take, grip, grasp

verbe transitif (saisir, s'agripper) (arms)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Ma mère tient mon bras pour marcher. Sur un bateau, il vaut mieux tenir la rampe si on ne veut pas tomber.

On a boat, it's best to take hold of the rail if you don't want to fall.

hold, restrain

verbe transitif (maintenir, maîtriser)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Quand on promène son chien au parc, il faut le tenir en laisse.

When walking a dog in the park, it must be kept on a leash.

hold

verbe transitif (serrer contre soi)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

La jeune maman tenait son enfant dans les bras.

The young mother was holding her child in her arms.

manage, run

verbe transitif (gérer) (business)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Pierre tient un restaurant.

Peter runs a restaurant.

control

verbe transitif (figuré (maîtriser, contrôler)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Ce professeur ne sait pas tenir sa classe

That teacher is incapable of controlling his class.

maintain, keep

verbe transitif (entretenir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Son appartement est très bien tenu.

His flat is very well maintained.

stand

verbe intransitif (rester dans une position)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Dans ce jeu, les candidats doivent tenir sur un poteau sur un seul pied.

In this game, the contestants have to stand on a post on just one leg.

resist

verbe intransitif (résister) (military)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Notre régiment n'a pas tenu plus de trois heures à cet endroit. Les concurrents devaient porter un poids à bout de bras et devaient tenir le plus longtemps.

The competitors had to hold a weight with their arms outstretched and hold out as long as possible.

be solid, be stable

verbe intransitif (être solide)

Ne suspends rien de lourd à ce clou, il ne tient pas beaucoup.

Don't hang anything heavy on this nail; it's not very solid.

continue, last

verbe intransitif (ne pas changer)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Le beau temps tiendra toute la semaine. Il a neigé une heure mais ça n'a pas tenu.

It snowed for an hour, but it didn't settle.

fit

verbe intransitif (être contenu)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Nous ne tiendrons pas tous dans cette voiture. Votre résumé doit tenir sur une page.

We won't all fit in this car. Your CV should fit on one page.

stick to , cling to

verbe transitif indirect (adhérer à [qch])

L'araignée tient au mur grâce à ses crochets.

Spiders stick to the walls thanks to their claws.

mean a lot to , be important to

verbe transitif indirect (éprouver de l'affection) (subject/object inversion)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Pierre m'est très cher : je tiens beaucoup à lui. Je te prête cette robe, mais ne l'abîme pas ; j'y tiens beaucoup, c'est ma mère qui l'a cousue elle-même.

Peter is very dear to me; I care a lot about him.

want to do

locution verbale (vouloir fortement)

Je tiens à être présent chez le notaire. Le directeur a tenu à préciser qu'il n'était pas au courant des agissements de son bras droit.

I want to be present at the notary's. The manager wanted to make it clear he didn't know what his right-hand man was up to.

get from

verbe transitif indirect (hériter un caractère de [qqn])

Ma fille a un caractère bien trempé ; elle tient ça de son père. Il n'y a pas à dire, Julien tient de sa mère !

My daughter has a strong personality; she gets that from her father.

stand

verbe pronominal (être placé quelque part)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Trois plantons se tiennent toujours devant l'entrée de ce ministère.

Three orderlies are still standing in front of the entrance to the ministry.

remain, stay, keep

verbe pronominal (rester)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Les oiseaux se tiennent toujours à bonne distance du chat.

The birds are staying at a good distance from the cat.

hold on to , hold onto hang on to , hang onto

(s'accrocher)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Comme il n'y avait plus de sièges dans le train, Emily s'est tenue à une des poignées pour garder l'équilibre. Assise à l'arrière de la moto, Julie se tenait à Brian pour ne pas tomber.

As there were no more sets on the train, Emily held on to one of the handles to maintain her balance. Sitting on the back of the motorcycle, Julie hung onto Brian so as not to fall.

remain, stay, keep

verbe pronominal (être dans une disposition) (availability)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Les pompiers se tiennent toujours prêts à intervenir. Cet étudiant se tient informé de toutes les nouveautés en matière d'informatique.

That student keeps himself informed of all the new computing developments.

take place

verbe pronominal (avoir lieu, se dérouler)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

La conférence se tiendra le 20 janvier au Palais des Congrès.

The conference will take place on 20 January at the Palais des Congrès.

behave

verbe pronominal (être respectueux des usages)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Tu es invité, j'espère que tu sauras te tenir.

You are invited; I hope you will be able to behave.

make sense

verbe pronominal (être cohérent)

Ce raisonnement se tient, c'est possible.

This argument makes sense; it's possible.

hold water

verbe intransitif (être plausible) (figurative)

Votre explication tient, c'est une possibilité.

Your explanation holds water, so it's certainly possible.

still be on

verbe intransitif (ne pas être annulé) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

On devait aller au ciné ce soir mais comme Julie n'a pas confirmé, je ne sais pas si ça tient toujours ou pas. Alors Éric, ça tient toujours pour samedi ? 19 h chez toi, c'est bien ça ?

We were supposed to be going to the cinema tonight, but as Julie hasn't confirmed, I don't know if it's still on or not. Eric, are we still on for Saturday? 7 pm at your place, right?

come over

verbe transitif (figuré (avoir prise sur [qqn]) (emotion)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])

Quand la colère la tient, elle ne se contrôle plus.

When anger comes over her, she loses all control.

keep

verbe transitif (s'occuper de)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Ma fille tient un journal qu'elle cache sous son lit.

My daughter keeps a diary that she hides under her bed.

keep to

verbe transitif (respecter)

Avec tout le travail qu'il nous reste à faire, il me semble difficile de tenir les délais.

With all the work we still have to do, I think it will be difficult to stick to the deadline.

use

verbe transitif (dire)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Cet homme politique tient des propos plutôt inquiétants.

This politician makes rather worrying comments.

come from, stem from, arise from

verbe transitif indirect (venir de)

Sa déprime tient à ses conditions de travail.

Her depression comes from her working conditions.

be attached to , be fond of

verbe transitif indirect (être attaché à [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Mon père tient à ce bureau.

That desk is important to my father.

behave yourself, behave

locution verbale (se conduire correctement)

had better behave yourself

locution verbale (devoir surveiller son comportement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

had better watch out

locution verbale (figuré (devoir se préparer à un défi)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Avec le tour de magie que je vous prépare, David Copperfield n'a qu'à bien se tenir !

know how to carry yourself, know how to behave

locution verbale (connaître les bonnes manières)

watch your step

(figuré (ne pas se faire remarquer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

keep away from , stay away from , keep your distance from

locution verbale (rester loin de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Tenez-vous à distance de la falaise !

keep yourself to yourself

locution verbale (ne pas se mêler aux autres)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

En soirée, il se tient à l'écart.

stay away from , keep away from

locution verbale (ne pas se mêler à [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Les enfants ! Tenez-vous à l'écart de la foule.

stay out of

locution verbale (ne pas s'occuper de [qch])

Je me tiens à l'écart des histoires de famille.

keep your distance from

locution verbale (ne pas se mêler à [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Je me tiens à l'écart de mes collègues.

keep away from , stay away from

locution verbale (ne pas approcher de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Il faut se tenir à l'écart du bord de cette falaise.

keep out of , stay out of

locution verbale (ne pas se mêler de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Je me tiens toujours à l'écart de leurs petites affaires.

would be happy to do

(être prêt à répondre aux demandes de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Le candidat se tient à la disposition de son éventuel employeur pour toutes informations complémentaires.

The candidate would be happy to answer any questions his potential employer may have.

keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with

(s'informer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Mon fils se tient au courant des avancées en recherche spatiale.

keep up with 's news

(s'informer réciproquement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

La famille se tient au courant de chacun.

stand

(rester debout)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

stand straight

(ne pas voûter le dos)

keep yourself informed

(s'informer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be ready to do , get ready to do , stand by to do

(être prêt à [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

keep on your toes

locution verbale (être vigilant) (figurative, informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

keep up to date with , keep yourself up to date with

(rester informé de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Pendant les vacances, je me tiens au courant des actualités par les journaux.

keep yourself informed

locution verbale (s'informer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Tiens-toi informé de la météo pour ce week-end.

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