2 syllables: main, tains. Stress on tains.
/meɪˈnteɪnz/
Say it backMaintains means keeps something in its existing state or condition, or continues to provide or preserve a particular quality or action. It implies ongoing support, upkeep, or assertion of a standard over time. In sentences, it often describes routine care or the act of sustaining a process or belief.
"The company maintains strict safety protocols to protect workers."
"She maintains her garden with regular watering and pruning."
"He maintains that the policy is effective, despite criticism."
Pronounce as /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/. The primary stress falls on the first syllable MAINT-, with a secondary emphasis on -TAINS in fast speech. The first syllable uses the diphthong /eɪ/ as in “may,” then the verb ending is /teɪnz/ with a clear /t/ followed by /eɪnz/. In careful speech you’ll hear MAINT- pronounced with a crisp /m/ and the -ains portion as /teɪnz/. Audio reference: you can check Cambridge or Forvo for /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying maɪnˈteɪnz or maɪnˌteɪnz with incorrect primary stress. Place primary stress on MAINT-: /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/. (2) Slurring the /t/ into the /eɪ/; some learners say /ˈmeɪnteɪnz/ or /ˈmeɪnˌtæns/. Correction: keep a crisp /t/ between /eɪ/ and /nz/; articulate /t/ and then glide into /eɪnz/ without nasalized vowel in between. Practice saying the two syllables separately first, then blend smoothly.
US: /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/ with clear /r/ none here and slightly tighter /eɪ/ in the first syllable. UK: /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/ similar, but vowels may be slightly more rounded and the /t/ crisp; non-rhotic influence is minimal in careful speech. AU: /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/ like US/UK, but Australian vowels can be broader and the /eɪ/ may have a slightly higher F2; connected speech often reduces the duration of the second syllable.
The challenge is balancing the two-stress pattern in a two-syllable stem plus the final /nz/ nasal with an /n/–/z/ cluster. Achieving a crisp /t/ before the diphthong /eɪ/ and avoiding a nasal blend requires precise tongue tip position and voicing control. In rapid speech, the /t/ can elide or merge to a light flap; keep it audible for clarity. IPA cues: /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/.
Yes. The word preserves a clear two-syllable stem with distinct secondary stress on the second syllable in many contexts, producing a two-beat rhythm: MAINT- and -TAINS. The /teɪnz/ ending is a sturdy, voiced nasal + voiced alveolar fricative cluster; ensure the /n/ immediately precedes the /z/ to avoid an inserted vowel. IPA: /ˈmeɪnˌteɪnz/.
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Maintain comes from the Old French maintenir, from en- (in, in) + manteindre (to hold, retain), from Latin manere (to remain, stay). The form manteindre appeared in medieval French, then entered English via Middle English with the spelling maintain and meaning “to keep in a state.” The word’s sense broadened in Early Modern English to cover ongoing upkeep, support, and defense of a position or condition. By the 16th–17th centuries, maintain also carried figurative senses like asserting a claim or belief. The modern verb maintain often collocates with up-to-date upkeep, long-term care, and policy or principle, reflecting its core idea of keeping, supporting, or continuing something over time.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "maintains" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "maintains"
-ins sounds
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