mantener la conversación
/manteneɾ la kombeɾsaθjon/from spelling rules
To keep the conversation going in Spanish is to mantener la conversación.
The phrase mantener la conversación is used in social contexts to describe the effort of avoiding awkward silences or prolonging an interaction.
Which one should you use?
While mantener la conversación focuses on the effort to sustain the interaction, you may also use seguir la conversación, which is a common alternative that emphasizes the act of following the flow of the dialogue.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the infinitive form mantener, which is used when the phrase follows another verb or a preposition, such as querer mantener la conversación (to want to keep the conversation going).
How do you pronounce it?
/manteneɾ la kombeɾsaθjon/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, keeping the conversation going is often linked to the concept of sobremesa. This is the period of time spent sitting around a table talking after a meal has finished, which is considered a vital social ritual.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, keeping a conversation going often involves interrupciones, where overlapping speech is seen as a sign of active listening and interest rather than rudeness.
- In Spain and Latin America, a common way to 'keep the conversation going' is by using muletillas, or 'little crutches'. These are filler words like este or pues that act as linguistic bridges to prevent silence while the speaker thinks.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué opinas sobre…?What do you think about…?
- Háblame un poco más sobre…Tell me a bit more about…
- Me pasó algo interesante el otro día…Something interesting happened to me the other day…
- ¡Vaya! Eso suena interesante. Cuéntame más…Wow! That sounds interesting. Tell me more…
- No puedo creerlo. ¿De verdad? ¡Y luego qué pasó?I can't believe it. Really? What happened next?
- Me gustaría escuchar más sobre eso…I'd love to hear more about that…
- ¡Oye!Hey!
- ¿En serio? ¡No me digas!Really? You don't say!
- Es difícil mantener la conversación con él.It is difficult to keep the conversation going with him.
- Ella siempre intenta mantener la conversación.She always tries to keep the conversation going.
- Necesito hacer preguntas para mantener la conversación.I need to ask questions to keep the conversation going.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are practicing their social skills for a party.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿qué haces para mantener la conversación?Sofía, what do you do to keep the conversation going?
- SofíaSuelo hacer preguntas sobre sus pasatiempos.I usually ask questions about their hobbies.
- AlejandroEso suena como un buen consejo.That sounds like good advice.
- SofíaSí, es la mejor forma de evitar silencios.Yes, it's the best way to avoid silences.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
