How do you say 'keep it up' in Spanish?

The encouraging phrase 'keep it up' translates naturally to sigue así, meaning 'continue like that.' In more enthusiastic contexts, you can say ¡dale que vas bien! (go on, you're doing great) or ¡no pares! (don't stop). These are standard motivational expressions used by coaches, teachers, and friends.

What is the difference between 'mantener' and 'guardar'?

Mantener focuses on sustaining or preserving a condition: mantener la paz (keep the peace), mantener la temperatura (maintain the temperature). Guardar focuses on physical storage and safekeeping: guardar ropa en el armario (keep clothes in the closet), guardar un secreto (keep a secret). The two verbs overlap when preservation and storage combine, but their core meanings remain distinct.

How do you translate 'keep in mind' to Spanish?

The most common translations are ten en cuenta (informal tú form) and tenga en cuenta (formal usted form), both meaning 'take into account.' Another natural option is no olvides que (don't forget that), which serves the same purpose of reminding someone to remember a piece of information.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Keep in Spanish: Mantener, Guardar, Quedarse

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Mantener / Guardar / Quedarse · verb · mahn-teh-NEHR / gwahr-DAHR / keh-DAHR-seh

English 'keep' has a remarkably wide range of meanings, and Spanish distributes them across several distinct verbs. Mantener covers 'keep' in the sense of maintaining a state or sustaining something; guardar means to store, save, or put away; quedarse con means to hold onto or retain possession of; and seguir plus a gerund translates 'keep doing.' Identifying the specific sense of 'keep' you intend determines which Spanish verb to reach for.

Each verb has its own pattern: mahn-teh-NEHR for mantener, gwahr-DAHR for guardar, and keh-DAHR-seh for quedarse. All three are stressed on the final syllable in their infinitive forms.

Quédate con el cambio, es tu propina.

Keep the change, it's your tip.

Keep in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for keep, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
mantener / guardar / quedarse	keep	mahn-teh-NEHR / gwahr-DAHR / keh-DAHR-seh	Default, widely understood
conservar	keep		to keep/preserve food or items
seguir	keep		'keep doing' with a gerund

How Native Speakers Use Mantener / Guardar / Quedarse

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Maintain a state

Mantén la calma durante el examen y piensa con claridad.

Keep calm during the exam and think clearly.

Mantener expresses sustaining a condition.

Store or save

Guarda los documentos importantes en la caja fuerte.

Keep the important documents in the safe.

Guardar means to store or put away for safekeeping.

Continue an action

Sigue practicando el piano y mejorarás rápido.

Keep practicing the piano and you'll improve quickly.

Seguir + gerund translates 'keep doing something.'

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Mantener / Guardar / Quedarse

Using mantener for physical storage

Incorrect: Mantén la leche en el refrigerador.

Correct: Guarda la leche en el refrigerador.

Mantener implies preserving a state or condition, while guardar is the verb for physically placing something in a storage location. Using mantener here would suggest you are keeping the milk in a certain condition rather than storing it.

Using guardar for 'keep doing'

Incorrect: Guarda estudiando, vas bien.

Correct: Sigue estudiando, vas bien.

The phrase 'keep doing' in the sense of continuing an action requires seguir + gerund in Spanish, not guardar, which is strictly about storing or saving objects.

Lock in Keep Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Mantener / Guardar / Quedarse used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using mantener / guardar / quedarse in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Quédate con el cambio, es tu propina. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Keep in Spanish

How do you say 'keep it up' in Spanish?: The encouraging phrase 'keep it up' translates naturally to sigue así, meaning 'continue like that.' In more enthusiastic contexts, you can say ¡dale que vas bien! (go on, you're doing great) or ¡no pares! (don't stop). These are standard motivational expressions used by coaches, teachers, and friends.
What is the difference between 'mantener' and 'guardar'?: Mantener focuses on sustaining or preserving a condition: mantener la paz (keep the peace), mantener la temperatura (maintain the temperature). Guardar focuses on physical storage and safekeeping: guardar ropa en el armario (keep clothes in the closet), guardar un secreto (keep a secret). The two verbs overlap when preservation and storage combine, but their core meanings remain distinct.
How do you translate 'keep in mind' to Spanish?: The most common translations are ten en cuenta (informal tú form) and tenga en cuenta (formal usted form), both meaning 'take into account.' Another natural option is no olvides que (don't forget that), which serves the same purpose of reminding someone to remember a piece of information.