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ils retiennent

hold, keep back, detain

→ retenir
re again; back + tienn hold + ent 3rd-person plural present ending
verb · 3rd-person plural, present tense Rare #45,899
hold, keep back
FR: Ils retiennent leur souffle.
EN: They hold their breath.
detain, hold
FR: Les policiers retiennent le suspect.
EN: The police are detaining the suspect.
Conjugation of retenir
Indicative present
SingularPlural
First retiens —
Second retiens retenez
Third retient retiennent
Subjunctive present
SingularPlural
Third — retiennent

Vos yeux me retiennent.

Your eyes hold me.

— Mon cœur est déjà pris (1999)

Mon pére a été arrêté par l'armée et je vais trouver où ils le retiennent.

My father was arrested by the army, and I’m going to find out where they’re holding him.

— Haider (2014)

Ses recherches le retiennent un peu plus longtemps au Québec.

His research is keeping him in Quebec a little longer.

— Roma (2018)

Ils retiennent toute l'eau.

They retain all the water.

— Bacurau (2019)

C'est le Capitaine Pike qu'ils retiennent.

It's Captain Pike they're keeping.

— Star Trek: The Cage (1965)