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tenir

to hold

verb tuh-NEER Common
Body & Health Movement

Also means

to keep

Usage Note

Tenir is to hold or keep, but tenir à twists into caring deeply about something or someone, as in je tiens à toi. The interjection Tiens is tossed out to mean 'here, take this' or, with surprise, 'well, look at that', and tenir bon means to hang on firmly.

Examples

"Tiens ma main."

Natural Translation

Hold my hand.

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