Definition
As a verb, to refrain is to stop yourself from doing something. As a noun, a refrain is a repeated line or set of lines in a song or poem.
Etymology
Verb: from Latin *refrenare* (to bridle, restrain), from *re-* (back) + *frenum* (bridle). Noun: from Old French *refraindre* for ‘repeat’, related to the idea of holding and bringing back the same words.
Kelly Says
To refrain from doing something is like putting a mental bridle on yourself—pulling back just before you act. The musical ‘refrain’ keeps pulling the same words and melody back, which is why choruses get stuck in your head.
Translations
AFAfrikaans
jou weer
yoh vayr
ARالعربية
يمتنع
yam-ta-ni
BGБългарски
въздържам се
vuz-der-ZHAM se
BNবাংলা
বিরত থাকা
bi-ro-to tha-ka
CACatalà
abstenir-se
ab-ste-NIR-se
CSČeština
zdržet se
zdr-ZHET se
DADansk
afholde sig
av-HOL-de sig
DEDeutsch
sich enthalten
zikh ent-HAL-ten
ELΕλληνικά
απέχω
a-PE-kho
ESEspañol
abstenerse
ab-ste-NER-se
ETEesti
hoiduma
hoi-DU-ma
EUEuskara
eragoztu
e-ra-GOZ-tu
FAفارسی
خودداری کردن
khod-daa-ri kar-dan
FISuomi
pidättäytyä
pi-dat-tai-tya
FRFrançais
s'abstenir
sab-ste-NEER
GLGalego
absterse
ab-STER-se
HRHrvatski
suzdržati se
suz-dr-ZHA-ti se
HUMagyar
tartózkodik
tar-TOZ-ko-dik
IDBahasa Indonesia
menahan diri
me-na-han di-ri
ITItaliano
astenersi
as-te-NER-si
LTLietuvių
susilaikyti
su-si-lai-KY-ti
LVLatviešu
atturēties
at-tu-RE-ties
MNМонгол
татгалзах
tatgalzakh
MSBahasa Melayu
menahan diri
me-na-han di-ri
MYမြန်မာ
ရှောင်သည်
shaung-thi
NLNederlands
zich onthouden
zikh ont-HOU-den
NONorsk
avholde seg
av-HOL-de seg
PLPolski
powstrzymywać się
pov-stshy-MY-vach sye
PTPortuguês
abster-se
ab-STER-se
RORomână
a se abține
a se ab-TSI-ne
RUРусский
воздерживаться
voz-der-ZHI-va-tsa
SKSlovenčina
zdržať sa
zdr-ZHAT sa
SLSlovenščina
vzdržati se
vz-dr-ZHA-ti se
SRСрпски
уздржати се
uz-dr-ZHA-ti se
SVSvenska
avhålla sig
av-HOL-la sig
SWKiswahili
jizuia
ji-zu-I-a
TEతెలుగు
నిలుపుకో
ni-lu-pu-ko
THไทย
หลีกเลี่ยง
leek-liang
TRTürkçe
kaçınmak
ka-chin-MAK
UKУкраїнська
утримуватися
ut-ry-mu-VA-ty-sya
URاردو
پرہیز کرنا
par-hez kar-na
VITiếng Việt
kiềm chế
kiem che