What does soutenu in French mean?

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

The word soutenu in French means sustained, strong, formal, hold up, prop up, support, hold, support, help, maintain, insist, help, support, support yourself, help one another, help each other, be valid, be maintained, be sustained, support, support, maintain, sustain, withstand, formal language, elevated language, formal register, sustained pace. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word soutenu

sustained

adjectif (prolongé, intense) (prolonged)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Le coureur a dû produire un effort soutenu pour gagner cette course.
The runner had to make a sustained effort to win the race.

strong

adjectif (couleur : intense) (colour)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Je n'aime pas ce vert pâle. Il faudrait un vert soutenu pour ce pan de mur.

formal

adjectif (registre : élevé) (language)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Oui, tu peux utiliser ce mot ici. C'est soutenu sans être pédant.

hold up, prop up

verbe transitif (fixer, retenir [qch])

Il faut des tuteurs pour soutenir mes pieds de tomates.
My tomato plants need stakes to hold them up.

support, hold

verbe transitif (empêcher de tomber)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Pour l'aider à marcher, je la soutiens par le bras.
I supported her by her arm to help her walk.

support, help

verbe transitif (figuré (inciter, stimuler)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le gouvernement prend des mesures pour soutenir l'économie.
The government is taking steps to support the economy.

maintain, insist

verbe transitif (déclarer [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Je soutiens l'avoir vu avec elle. Le policier soutenait la thèse du suicide.
The police officer insisted on the suicide theory.

help, support

verbe transitif (aider)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Mon frère m'a soutenu dans mes difficultés.
My brother helped me through my problems.

support yourself

verbe pronominal (s'équilibrer)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")
Mon fils commence à nager, il se soutient tout seul.
My son is starting to swim; he's holding himself up without any help.

help one another, help each other

verbe pronominal (s'entraider)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")
Notre famille s'est toujours soutenue dans les moments difficiles.
In our family, we've always supported each other through difficult times.

be valid

verbe pronominal (être affirmé valablement)

C'est une idée non conventionnelle mais ça se soutient.
It's an unconventional idea, but it bears scrutiny.

be maintained, be sustained

verbe pronominal (rester stable) (suspense)

Le suspens de ce film se soutient du début à la fin.
The film's suspense is maintained from beginning to end.

support

verbe transitif (combattre en faveur de)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Cette association soutient les malades du sida.
This organization supports AIDS sufferers.

support, maintain

verbe transitif (aider un organe affaibli)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Il porte une pile pour soutenir son cœur.
He wears a pacemaker to keep his heart going.

sustain, withstand

verbe transitif (soutenu (supporter) (attack)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Ce régiment a soutenu l'assaut de l'ennemi durant une semaine.
The regiment withstood the enemy assault for a week.

formal language, elevated language

nom masculin (langage à mots soutenus)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

formal register

nom masculin (niveau de langue élevé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Quand on écrit une lettre à une administration par exemple, il faut utiliser un registre soutenu. Les négations avec « point » appartiennent au registre soutenu.

sustained pace

nom masculin (cadence importante)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.