Use tiens and tenez to draw attention to what you're about to say, where in English you might say something like “see,” “look,” or “you know.” Tiens, je dois t'expliquer une chose. Look, I need to explain something to you. Tenez, c'est plus difficile que ça.

How do you use Tenir?

Tenir à means “to love,” or “to be fond of.” It conveys the idea of an emotional bond with subtle nuances. Tenir à can express the idea that one would suffer if one was to be separated from a loved person or thing. A girl might have to break up with her boyfriend but would suffer from the parting.

What does the verb Tenir mean in French?

Tenir is an irregular verb ending in -ir and usually means "to hold" or "to keep." Tenir has a number of other meanings, including some which depend on the preposition that follows. It's used in a number of French expressions.