mapanatili

Mapanatili is a Filipino (Tagalog) verb that conveys the act of keeping or maintaining something in a desired state, condition, or level. It can refer to tangible conditions such as cleanliness, order, or safety, as well as abstract states like peace, tradition, or reputation. The term is formed from the noun panatili, meaning maintenance or retention, with the verbal prefix ma-, and is used to express the act of causing something to endure or be kept as is. Common expressions include mapanatili ang kalinisan (to maintain cleanliness), mapanatili ang kaayusan (to preserve order), and mapanatili ang kalidad ng produkto (to preserve the quality of the product).

In usage, mapanatili takes a direct object that names what is being kept and may be accompanied by time frames or conditions that specify how long or under what circumstances the keeping should occur. It appears across everyday speech as well as in education, business, and government discourse when discussing standards, continuity, or sustainability. Grammatical forms of the verb vary with aspect, voice, and focus, including nananatili (present state of remaining) and pinananatili (ongoing act of maintaining). The exact form used depends on what is being described and the sentence’s focus.

Examples:

- Mapanatili ang kalinisan sa opisina. (To maintain cleanliness in the office.)

- Nais nilang mapanatili ang kapayapaan sa komunidad. (They want to keep peace in the community.)

- Dapat mapanatili ang kalidad ng produkto. (The product quality should be preserved.)

Etymology: derived from panatili (maintenance/retention) with the ma- prefix to form a verb indicating the action of maintaining or preserving.