- French to English
tenir
- Dictionary
tenir
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., acheter).
1. (to carry)
a. to hold
Alice tenait un livre dans une main et une fleur dans l'autre.Alice held a book in one hand and a flower in the other.
2. (to grasp)
a. to hold
Le bébé me tient le doigt et me sourit.The baby is holding my finger, and he's smiling at me.
b. to hold on to
La patiente tenait fermement la rampe, comme si elle avait peur de tomber.The patient held on tightly to the handrail, as if she were afraid of falling.
3. (to control)
a. to keep
Les maîtres doivent tenir leur chien en laisse sur ce sentier.Owners must keep their dog on a leash on this trail.
a. to hold
Le jardinier met des tuteurs pour tenir les plants de tomates.The gardener places stakes to hold the tomato plants.
5. (to seize)
a. to catch
Les policiers tiennent un suspect. Ils vont l'interroger.The police caught a suspect. They're going to question him.
6. (figurative) (to be in the presence of)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
a. to have (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
Puisque je vous tiens, puis-je avoir votre signature sur ce document ?While I have you, could I get your signature on this document?
a. to handle
Les enseignants inexpérimentés ont parfois des difficultés pour tenir leur classe.Inexperienced teachers sometimes have difficulty handling their class.
b. to control
L'armée tient la ville et a imposé un couvre-feu.The army controls the city and has imposed a curfew.
8. (to possess)
a. to have
La journaliste tient des informations confidentielles qu'elle va révéler.The journalist has confidential information that she will reveal.
10. (to manage)
a. to run
Mon arrière-grand-mère tenait une boutique de chapeaux.My great-grandmother ran a hat store.
11. (to fulfill)
a. to keep
La maire n'a pas tenu sa promesse de s'attaquer à la crise du logement.The mayor didn't keep her promise of tackling the housing crisis.
12. (to deem)
a. to hold
La femme tient son mari pour responsable de leurs problèmes d'argent.The woman holds her husband responsible for their financial problems.
b. to consider
Nous tenons les résultats de l'étude pour incontestables.We consider the results of the study to be indisputable.
13. (to occupy)
a. to keep
Je suis désolé d'être en retard. La réunion m'a tenu plus longtemps que prévu.I'm sorry I'm late. The meeting kept me longer than expected.
14. (figurative) (to affect emotionally)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
a. to control
Quand la peur nous tient, nous prenons de mauvaises décisions.When fear controls us, we make bad decisions.
15. (to say)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Le député a tenu un discours rassembleur.The Congressman gave a unifying speech.
Ton chef a tenu des propos élogieux à ton sujet.Your boss spoke highly of you.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., éternuer.).
a. to stand
Les enfants essaient de tenir sur un pied le plus longtemps possible.The children are trying to stand on one foot for as long as possible.
17. (to be fixed)
18. (to resist)
a. to hold
La digue n'a pas tenu et la ville a été inondée.The dike didn't hold, and the city was flooded.
b. to hold out
J'espère que mes vieilles chaussures tiendront jusqu'au printemps.I hope my old shoes hold out until spring.
c. to hold up
Personne ne peut tenir face à une telle pression.No one can hold up under that much pressure.
19. (to remain)
20. (to be valid)
a. to stand
Si tu veux travailler avec moi, l'offre tient toujours.If you want to work with me, the offer still stands.
21. (to go in)
a. to care about
Séverine tient beaucoup à ses grands-parents chez qui elle passe toutes ses vacances.Séverine cares a lot about her grandparents, with whom she spends all her vacations.
b. to care for
Ça fait 10 ans qu'on ne s'est pas vus mais je tiens toujours à toi.It's been 10 years since we last saw each other, but I still care for you.
c. to be fond of
Eliot tient à son professeur et il est triste de devoir changer d'école l'année prochaine.Eliot is fond of his teacher, and he's sad to have to change schools next year.
d. to be attached to
Ludivine tient à ce collier qui appartenait à sa mère.Ludivine is attached to this necklace which belonged to her mother.
a. to value
Ma fille est très indépendante. Elle tient à sa liberté.My daughter is very independent. She values her freedom.
a. to want to
Je tenais à vous remercier pour votre dévouement sans faille.I wanted to thank you for your unfailing dedication.
b. to be keen to
Ton cousin tient vraiment à venir te rendre visite à Montréal.Your cousin is really keen to come visit you in Montreal.
a. to take after
Sami est très sociable. Il tient de son père à cet égard.Sami is very sociable. He takes after his father in that respect.
a. to be due to
L'élève a travaillé dur toute l'année et sa réussite tient à sa persévérance.The student has worked hard all year, and his success is due to his perseverance.
27. (figurative) (to be coherent)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
a. to hold up
Votre théorie ne tient pas. Elle va à l'encontre du consensus scientifique actuel.Your theory doesn't hold up. It goes against current scientific consensus.
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