se tenir
stand
The French word 'se tenir' translates to 'stand' in English. It is typically used to describe the act of maintaining an upright position supported by one's feet or the act of being situated in a particular place or position. For example, 'Je me tiens devant toi' means 'I stand before you'. This verb is reflexive, meaning it reflects the action back onto the subject.
Example sentences using: se tenir
Ils se tiennent toujours près de la rivière.
They always position themselves near the river.
The verb 'se tenir' in this sentence is used to describe where 'they' are always located, which is near the river. In French, ‘se tenir’ can often mean to position or place oneself.
Je me tiens à l'écart des problèmes.
I keep myself away from troubles.
Here, 'se tenir' is used to express the action of staying away or keeping oneself away from something, in this case, troubles.
Se tenir droit est important pour une bonne posture.
Standing straight is important for good posture.
In this example phrase, 'se tenir' is used to mean 'to stand', and when it's combined with 'droit', it translates to 'standing straight'.
Nous devons nous tenir prêts pour le concert.
We must be ready for the concert.
In this context, 'se tenir' is used to express the need to be in a certain state or condition, in this case, being ready for the concert.
S'il vous plaît, tenez-vous tranquille pendant la réunion.
Please, be quiet during the meeting.
Here, 'se tenir' is used to mean 'behave,' asking the person to maintain quiet behavior during the meeting.
Elle se tient occupée pour ne pas penser à lui.
She keeps herself busy so as not to think about him.
In this context, 'se tenir' is used to express the action of maintaining a certain state which is meant to distract oneself.
L'équipe se tient prête pour le match.
The team is ready for the match.
In this context, 'se tenir' is used to show the team's readiness for a match, giving a sense of preparedness.
Je me tiens responsable de mes actes.
I hold myself accountable for my actions.
Here, 'se tenir' is used to express taking responsibility, depicting self-accountability.
Vous devriez vous tenir au courant des événements actuels.
You should keep yourself informed about current events.
'Se tenir au courant' is a common French phrase that means to stay informed about something.
Les spectateurs se tiennent en silence pendant la performance.
The spectators remain silent during the performance.
In this expression, the use of 'se tenir' is meant to convey the persistence of a condition, to remain or keep in a certain state, here it is silence.