mantenho

Mantenho is the primera person singular form of the Portuguese verb manter, used in the present indicative to express a current action of keeping, preserving, or sustaining something. In this form, the speaker conveys ongoing effort or state, such as keeping a habit, upholding a principle, or continuing to provide for someone.

Etymology and usage notes: manter derives from Latin manēre, meaning to stay or remain, and in Portuguese it developed into a family of verbs meaning to preserve or uphold. The form mantenho (with the 1sg ending) is typical of the present tense conjugation for this verb. Mantenho can be used with a wide range of direct or indirect objects, including physical maintenance, commitments, conditions, or relationships. For example, eu mantenho a casa em ordem (I keep the house in order) or eu mantenho meus compromissos (I uphold my commitments). The verb also appears in phrases signaling financial support, as in eu mantenho minha família com meu salário (I support my family with my salary).

Dialect and conjugation notes: manter is an irregular -er verb in some forms, producing distinctive 1st-person singular forms like mantenho. Across Portuguese dialects, the 2nd person singular form may appear as manténs in formal European Portuguese, while Brazilian usage often relies on pronouns such as você mantém rather than a direct tú form. The present tense is complemented by related forms in other tenses and the subjunctive, such as que eu mantenha (that I maintain).

Related terms: manter, manutenção, sustentar, preservar.