The simple present tense of atenerse is used to express actions or states that are happening now or that occur habitually. For example, Me atengo a las reglas del juego. (I abide by the rules of the game.)

Atenerse is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation follows a unique pattern that deviates from the standard rules.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Atenerse (to abide by) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Atenerse generally means to abide by or comply with something, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To abide by or comply with: For example, Me atengo a las reglas del juego. (I abide by the rules of the game.)

To stick to or limit oneself to: For example, Me atengo a los hechos. (I stick to the facts.)

To rely on or trust in: For example, Me atengo a tu criterio. (I rely on your judgment.)

Colloquial: To face the consequences: For example, Me atengo a lo que venga. (I’ll face whatever comes.)

Rude: To shut up or be quiet (impolite): For example, ¡Atente a lo que digo! (Shut up and listen to what I’m saying!)

Examples

Examples of Atenerse in the Present Tense

Cuando viajo, siempre me atengo a las reglas y costumbres locales. (When I travel, I always abide by the local rules and customs.)

Mi jefe es muy estricto, así que me atengo a las políticas de la empresa al pie de la letra. (My boss is very strict, so I adhere to the company policies to the letter.)

En esta familia, nos atenemos a las tradiciones que se han pasado de generación en generación. (In this family, we follow the traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.)

Cuando estoy en un país extranjero, me atengo a las leyes y reglamentos locales. (When I’m in a foreign country, I abide by the local laws and regulations.)

Para mantener una buena salud, me atengo a una dieta equilibrada y hago ejercicio regularmente. (To maintain good health, I stick to a balanced diet and exercise regularly.)

En el trabajo, te atienes al código de conducta profesional, ¿verdad? (At work, you adhere to the professional code of conduct, right?)

Aunque no estoy de acuerdo con algunas reglas, me atengo a ellas por respeto a la autoridad. (Although I don’t agree with some rules, I abide by them out of respect for authority.)

En esta comunidad, nos atenemos a los valores tradicionales de honestidad y respeto mutuo. (In this community, we uphold the traditional values of honesty and mutual respect.)

Cuando juego al ajedrez, me atengo estrictamente a las reglas del juego. (When I play chess, I strictly follow the rules of the game.)

Para mantener una buena relación con mis vecinos, me atengo a las normas de convivencia del edificio. (To maintain a good relationship with my neighbors, I abide by the building’s community rules.)

En esta empresa, nos atenemos a los más altos estándares de calidad y servicio al cliente. (In this company, we adhere to the highest standards of quality and customer service.)

Aunque a veces es difícil, me atengo a mi presupuesto para evitar gastar de más. (Although it’s sometimes difficult, I stick to my budget to avoid overspending.)

Cuando cocino platos tradicionales, me atengo fielmente a las recetas familiares. (When cooking traditional dishes, I faithfully follow the family recipes.)

En esta organización, nos atenemos a los más altos principios éticos y de integridad. (In this organization, we uphold the highest ethical principles and integrity.)

Aunque a veces es tentador tomar atajos, me atengo al proceso establecido para garantizar resultados de calidad. (Although it’s sometimes tempting to take shortcuts, I follow the established process to ensure quality results.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Atenerse (to abide by) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.