Elle a tenu le bébé doucement pendant que sa sœur préparait le déjeuner.
English: She held the baby gently while her sister prepared lunch.
tenir /tənˈiʁ/ · verb · CEFR B2. French translation of "hold".
See also: Vocabulary entry (French)

Listen to how "tenir" sounds in French.
This verb is shown in its dictionary form.
| Dictionary form | tenir |
|---|---|
| Use note | Use the form shown here as the lookup form. |
Elle a tenu le bébé doucement pendant que sa sœur préparait le déjeuner.
English: She held the baby gently while her sister prepared lunch.
Il occupe le même poste depuis plus de quinze ans.
English: He has been holding the same job for over fifteen years.
Si vous tenez la porte, je peux porter les cartons à l'intérieur.
English: If you hold the door, I can carry the boxes inside.
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