rester

The French verb "rester" means "to stay," "to remain," or "to keep being" in English. It is used to express the idea of someone or something continuing to be in a certain state, place, or condition without changing or leaving.

Key meanings:

• Stay/remain in a place:
  Je vais rester à la maison.
  (I’m going to stay at home.)

• Continue to be in a state:
  Reste calme !
  (Stay calm!)

• To have left (in terms of quantity):
  Il reste trois pommes.
  (There are three apples left.)

---

Synonyms and differences:

• Demeurer: Also means "to remain." It is more formal and often poetic, and less commonly used in everyday speech.
  Il demeure ici depuis longtemps. (He has remained here for a long time.)

• Habiter: Means "to live" somewhere but not with the nuance of staying temporarily, more permanent residence.
  J’habite à Paris. (I live in Paris.)

• Tenir: Sometimes overlaps in meaning with "stay" but more about "holding" or "maintaining" something.

In general, "rester" is the most commonly used and versatile verb for expressing the idea of staying or remaining.