Italian Phrase
Tienili al sicuro.
Meaning
Literally ‘keep them safe.’ It is a short, direct way to tell someone to protect a group of people, animals, or objects from danger or harm.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give a quick, informal instruction to a friend, family member, or colleague to look after something valuable, a pet, children, or any group that needs protection.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tienilialsicuro
Imperative + clitic pronoun
‘Tienili’ is the second‑person singular imperative of *tenere* combined with the direct‑object pronoun *li* (them). The clitic attaches to the verb without a space.
Article contraction
*al* is the contraction of the preposition *a* + the masculine singular article *il*.
Adjective agreement
*sicuro* agrees in gender and number with the implied noun (masculine singular). If you were referring to a feminine object you would say *sicura*.
🗨In Conversation
Tienili al sicuro, per favore.
Keep them safe, please.
Certo, li metto nella cassaforte.
Sure, I’ll put them in the safe.
✕Common Mistakes
Tienilo al sicuro.
‘Tienilo’ is singular (him/it). Use *Tienili* when referring to more than one object or person.
Tienili a sicuro.
The preposition *a* must contract with *il* to become *al*.
Tienili al sicura.
The adjective must agree with the gender of the implied noun; *sicura* is feminine.
↔Alternatives
Proteggili.
Protect them.
Mettili al sicuro.
Put them in a safe place.
Falli stare al sicuro.
Make sure they stay safe.
Cultural Tip
In Italian the imperative with clitic pronouns is very common in everyday speech, especially among friends and family. For a more formal tone you could use the polite form *Le tenga al sicuro* (to a single person) or *Li tenga al sicuro* (to a group). Also, remember that *sicuro* must match the gender of the noun you are implicitly referring to.