trattenere

to hold back

verb trat-teh-NEH-reh Less Common

Also means

to detain

Usage Note

Trattenere is irregular like tenere: present trattengo, trattieni, trattiene… It takes avere when transitive (ha trattenuto il respiro, held his breath) and is used reflexively as trattenersi (to restrain oneself, to stay). Common idiom: trattenere il fiato (to hold one's breath).

Examples

"Ha trattenuto il respiro sott'acqua."

Natural Translation

He held his breath underwater.

Literal Translation

He-held the breath under-water.

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