/ʁə.tə.niʁ/
Translation
to retain, to hold back, to remember
Word origin
From Latin retinere ('to hold back, keep'), from re- ('back') and tenere ('to hold').
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- retinere
- English cognates
- retain, retention, tenant
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular french-irregular conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | retiens | retenais | retins | retiendrai | retiendrais |
| tu | retiens | retenais | retins | retiendras | retiendrais |
| il/elle | retient | retenait | retint | retiendra | retiendrait |
| nous | retenons | retenions | retînmes | retiendrons | retiendrions |
| vous | retenez | reteniez | retîntes | retiendrez | retiendriez |
| ils/elles | retiennent | retenaient | retinrent | retiendront | retiendraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | retienne | retinsse |
| tu | retiennes | retinsses |
| il/elle | retienne | retînt |
| nous | retenions | retinssions |
| vous | reteniez | retinssiez |
| ils/elles | retiennent | retinssent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | retiens |
| nous | retenons |
| vous | retenez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- retenant
- Past participle
- retenu · retenue · retenus · retenues
Examples
' .
I cannot remember his surname.
Retiens .
Remember well what I am going to tell you.
.
He had to hold back his tears in front of the children.
.
The boss wants to keep the best employees.
retenu .
We have reserved a table for tonight.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
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retenir: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "retenir" (to retain, to hold back, to remember): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 20.