Mantienes

Mantienes is the second-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb mantener. It means “you maintain” or “you keep,” and it is used transitively to describe preserving a state, keeping an object, or upholding a commitment. Examples: “Tú mantienes la casa ordenada” and “Tú mantienes tu palabra.”

Mantener, the base verb, is irregular in the present tense. The full present-tense paradigm is: yo mantengo, tú mantienes, él mantiene, nosotros mantenemos, vosotros mantenéis, ellos mantienen. The form mantienes specifically corresponds to the tú form. The verb can also be used reflexively as mantenerse in reflexive constructions (for example, mantenerse firme).

Etymology and range of meanings: mantener comes from Latin manu tenere, “to hold in the hand,” and via Old French maintenaindre/maintenir into Spanish. In addition to “to maintain,” mantener covers meanings such as “to keep up,” “to support financially,” and “to uphold a position or idea.” Related nouns include mantenimiento (maintenance), and mante nedor/mantenedor (maintainer).

Usage notes: mantienes is common in everyday speech when addressing someone informalmente (tú). It appears in contexts such as maintaining routines, promises, or conditions, and it often collocates with objects or clauses that express what is being kept or preserved.