French word

retenue

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁətəny/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrestraint

Example

Dans la conversation, elle fait preuve de retenue.

In conversation, she shows restraint.

Illustration for retenue (restraint)

More examples

Lors de la fête, il a manqué de retenue.

At the party, he lacked restraint.

Core concept

A calm inner brake that keeps feelings or opinions from spilling into social speech.

Common phrases

  • faire preuve de retenue

    show restraint

  • avoir de la retenue

    be restrained

  • manquer de retenue

    lack restraint

Similar words

réserve: Restraint in openly revealing feelings or thoughts.
discrétion: Considerate restraint in speech and conduct according to the situation and audience.
modération: Keeping emotions and comments within reasonable limits.
pudeur: A reluctance to discuss bodily or sexual matters out of modesty.

Definition in French

Disposition au contrôle de soi qui limite l'expression des sentiments ou des opinions dans les relations sociales.

Word origin

Retenue comes from the noun form of retenir, from Latin retinere, meaning to hold back or keep.

Usage tips

  • Retenue is feminine, so the usual form is la retenue, and faire preuve de retenue takes de.

Other meanings

  • reservenoun
  • self-controlnoun

Opposites

  • désinvolturenonchalancenoun
  • impulsivitéimpulsivenessnoun

Related words

  • retenirhold backverb
  • retenurestrainedadjective
  • rétentionretentionnoun

Word lists with this word