Spanish Phrase
Mantén a la persona abrigada.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct instruction to keep a specific person warm, usually because the weather is cold or the person is feeling chilly. It combines a command (mantén) with a personal object (a la persona) and an adjective that describes the desired state (abrigada).
When to use
Use this phrase when you are looking after someone in cold weather, when you give a caregiver a quick reminder, or when you are offering practical advice about staying warm during an outdoor activity.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Manténalapersonaabrigada
Imperative (tú) of mantener
‘Mantén’ is the affirmative tú‑imperative form of the verb ‘mantener’, used to give a direct command.
Personal ‘a’
When the direct object refers to a specific person, Spanish places a personal ‘a’ before it (a la persona).
Adjective agreement
‘Abrigada’ is a past‑participle adjective that must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes (feminine singular).
🗨In Conversation
Hace mucho frío, ¿puedes ayudar a tu hermano?
It's really cold, can you help your brother?
Claro, mantén a la persona abrigada.
Sure, keep the person warm.
✕Common Mistakes
Mantener a la persona abrigada.
The infinitive ‘mantener’ cannot be used as a command; you need the imperative ‘mantén’.
Mantén a la persona abrigado.
The adjective must agree with the feminine noun ‘persona’; use ‘abrigada’.
Mantén la persona abrigada.
When the object is a specific person, the personal ‘a’ is required.
↔Alternatives
Mantén a la gente caliente.
Keep the people hot.
Cuida que la persona no pase frío.
Make sure the person doesn't get cold.
Asegúrate de que la persona esté abrigada.
Make sure the person is warm.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, especially those with colder climates (e.g., parts of Argentina, Chile, Spain’s mountain regions), caring for others’ comfort is expressed with verbs like ‘mantener’ and adjectives like ‘abrigado/a’. In tropical areas the phrase may sound unusual; locals might instead say ‘mantén a la persona cómoda’ (keep the person comfortable). Using the personal ‘a’ signals respect for the person you’re referring to.