Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Maintenance in Spanish: Mantenimiento
Mantenimiento · noun · mahn-teh-nee-MYEHN-toh
Mantenimiento is the standard Spanish noun for maintenance, covering the upkeep, repair, and preservation of equipment, buildings, vehicles, and systems. The word derives from mantener (to maintain) and applies to both routine preventive care and corrective repairs. In legal contexts, manutención refers specifically to financial maintenance such as alimony or child support, which is a distinct concept from physical upkeep.
Mantenimiento is a six-syllable word stressed on the fifth: mahn-teh-nee-MYEHN-toh. Despite its length, the syllables follow a predictable rhythmic pattern that makes it manageable with practice.
El mantenimiento del edificio incluye pintura, plomería y electricidad.
The building's maintenance includes painting, plumbing, and electrical work.
Maintenance in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for maintenance, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| mantenimiento | maintenance | mahn-teh-nee-MYEHN-toh | Default, widely understood |
| manutención | maintenance | financial support/alimony context | |
| conservación | maintenance | preservation of buildings, roads, or heritage |
How Native Speakers Use Mantenimiento
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Vehicle care
Lleva el coche al taller para el mantenimiento de los frenos.
Take the car to the shop for brake maintenance.
Automotive maintenance is a common everyday context.
Property upkeep
Los gastos de mantenimiento del apartamento son responsabilidad del inquilino.
The apartment maintenance costs are the tenant's responsibility.
Property management and rental agreements.
Preventive care
Realizamos mantenimiento preventivo en todos los equipos cada tres meses.
We perform preventive maintenance on all equipment every three months.
Industrial or office maintenance schedule.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Mantenimiento
Confusing mantenimiento with manutención
Incorrect: Paga mantenimiento a sus hijos todos los meses. (meaning child support)
Correct: Paga manutención a sus hijos todos los meses.
Mantenimiento refers to physical upkeep of things, while manutención specifically means financial support for dependents. Using mantenimiento for child support implies you are repairing your children rather than supporting them financially.
Spelling as 'mantenimento'
Incorrect: El mantenimento del jardín es costoso.
Correct: El mantenimiento del jardín es costoso.
The correct spelling includes the i before the e in the final portion: manteni-miento, not manteni-mento. This common spelling error drops a syllable from the word.
Lock in Maintenance 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 Mantenimiento used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using mantenimiento in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El mantenimiento del edificio incluye pintura, plomería y electricidad. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Maintenance in Spanish
- What is the difference between 'mantenimiento preventivo' and 'mantenimiento correctivo'?
- Mantenimiento preventivo is scheduled maintenance performed to prevent breakdowns — like changing oil every 5,000 kilometers. Mantenimiento correctivo is reactive maintenance done after something breaks — like replacing a burst pipe. Companies and mechanics use both terms regularly to categorize repair work and budget accordingly.
- How do you say 'maintenance worker' in Spanish?
- A maintenance worker is called a técnico de mantenimiento (maintenance technician) in professional settings or encargado de mantenimiento (maintenance manager/person in charge). Informally, the person who handles building upkeep may simply be called el de mantenimiento (the maintenance guy).
- What does 'manutención' mean in legal Spanish?
- In legal contexts, manutención refers to the financial obligation to support dependents — typically translated as alimony or child support in English. A court might order pensión de manutención (maintenance payments) as part of a divorce settlement. This legal term is entirely separate from the physical upkeep meaning of mantenimiento.