WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary © 2026:
| Principal Translations |
| retener⇒ vtr | (tener apresado) | hold prisoner v expr |
| | El ladrón retuvo a dos clientes como rehenes. |
| | The thief held two clients prisoner. |
| retener vtr | (almacenar en la mente) | retain⇒ vtr |
| | Retiene en su memoria todos los detalles del encuentro. |
| | She holds all the details of the meeting in her memory. |
| Additional Translations |
| retenerse⇒ v prnl | (contenerse, dominarse) | restrain yourself vtr + refl |
| | | keep calm v expr |
| | (figurative) | keep your hair on v expr |
| | Le dije que se retuviera, pero no pudo y explotó en furia. |
| | She told him to restrain himself, but he couldn't and just flew off the handle. |
| retener⇒ vtr | (parar el avance) | hold back vtr phrasal insep |
| | | contain⇒ vtr |
| | | retain⇒ vtr |
| | Parece que el dique improvisado retiene el lodo. |
| | It looks like the improvised dike is holding back the mud. |
| retener vtr | (contener, refrenar) | restrain⇒ vtr |
| | (emotions) | contain⇒ vtr |
| | Retén tus pasiones; no permitas que te dominen. |
| | Restrain your passions; don't let them dominate you. |