retener

to retain

verb rreh-teh-NEHR Less Common

Also means

to hold back

Usage Note

Retener is an irregular verb conjugated like tener — it uses a -go first-person singular (retengo) and a preterite stem retuv- (retuve, retuviste). It covers both physical holding back (retener agua) and mental retention (retener información). Do not confuse with detener, which implies a stop rather than ongoing containment.

Examples

"Es difícil retener tanta información."

Natural Translation

It is hard to retain so much information.

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