continuar con
/kontinwaɾ kon/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'keep up' can be translated into Spanish as continuar con. If unsure, use continuar con. Wiktionary also lists continuar así.
Meaning: continue with (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| continuar con | /kontinwaɾ kon/ (from spelling rules) |
| continuar así | /kontinwaɾ asi/ (from spelling rules) |
In Spanish, the way you say 'keep up' depends on the specific nuance of the English phrase. A very common synonym for continuar used in everyday speech is the verb seguir, which means 'to follow' or 'to continue'.
Which one should you use?
While continuar con is a general way to express continuing with something, use continuar así when 'keep up' implies maintaining a specific current state or behavior, such as in the phrase 'keep up the good work' (meaning 'keep on like this').
Did you know?
- To say 'keep up' in the sense of maintaining a walking pace, Spanish speakers usually say seguir el ritmo, which literally means 'to follow the rhythm'.
- The Latin root of con in continuar con is the same root found in the English word 'companion', which literally means 'one who shares a bread with another'.
- The phrase continuar con can sound academic or overly formal in a casual setting. In a relaxed conversation, native speakers will almost always swap it for seguir.
Examples in context
- Mantenga el ritmo, señor Martínez. Está haciendo un excelente trabajo.Keep up the pace, Mr. Martinez. You're doing an excellent job.
- Siga así, señora García. Está progresando enormemente.Keep up the good work, Mrs. Garcia. You're making great progress.
- Sigue así, amigo. Estás haciendo un gran trabajo.Keep it up, friend. You're doing a great job.
- No te quedes atrás, hermanita. Vamos a llegar juntos.Don't fall behind, little sister. We'll get there together.
- ¡Sigue así!Keep it up!
- Debes continuar con tus estudios de medicina.You must continue with your medical studies.
- Ella quiere continuar con el proyecto de arte.She wants to continue with the art project.
- ¿Pueden continuar con la reunión después del café?Can they continue with the meeting after coffee?
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are discussing a work task in an office.
- DanielLucía, ¿puedes continuar con el informe hoy?Lucía, can you continue with the report today?
- LucíaSí, Daniel, voy a continuar con ello ahora mismo.Yes, Daniel, I am going to continue with it right now.
- DanielPerfecto, gracias por tu ayuda.Perfect, thanks for your help.
- LucíaDe nada, cuenta con ello.You're welcome, count on it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “keep up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries así, con, continuar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
