Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to have" in Spanish: tener
tener
To have in Spanish is tener. Beginners need tengo, tienes, and tiene. Spanish also uses tener for age and hunger: tengo veinte años, tengo hambre.
Talking about pets
Tengo dos gatos en casa.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tener
Say it
teh-NEHR / TEN-goh
/te.ˈneɾ/
Tener is teh-NEHR. Tengo is TEN-goh. Tienes is TYEH-nehs.
"to have" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| tener | to have Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| tengo | I have First-person present. | First-person present. |
| tienes / tiene | you have / he-she has Everyday questions and statements. | Everyday questions and statements. |
| tenemos / tienen | we have / they have Plural; ustedes tienen in Latin America. | Plural; ustedes tienen in Latin America. |
| tener que | to have to Obligation: Tengo que estudiar. | Obligation: Tengo que estudiar. |
How to use tener in real life
- 1Talking about pets
Tengo dos gatos en casa.
I have two cats at home.
Tengo is the basic possession form.
- 2Asking a friend
¿Tienes un cargador ahí?
Do you have a charger there?
Tienes fits informal you.
- 3Before lunch
Tengo que terminar esto primero.
I have to finish this first.
Tener que shows obligation.
Mistakes English speakers make with tener
Incorrect: Yo tener un carro.
Correct: Yo tengo un carro.
Conjugate tener: yo tengo.
Incorrect: Soy hambre.
Correct: Tengo hambre.
Hunger uses tener, not ser.
Good to know
Spanish uses tener where English often uses to be: tengo hambre, tengo frío, tengo razón. Learn those tener chunks early.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Borrowing a phone charger at a café
ChatPal
Perdón, ¿tienes un cargador de iPhone?
Sorry, do you have an iPhone charger?
You
Sí. Tengo uno en la mochila.
Yes. I have one in the backpack.
ChatPal
Gracias. Mi celular tiene solo dos por ciento.
Thanks. My phone has only two percent.
You
Úsalo. Yo tengo otro cable en casa.
Use it. I have another cable at home.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to have" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to have" in Spanish
What are the main present forms of tener?
Tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tienen.
How do I say I have to…?
Tengo que… Example: Tengo que estudiar.
How do I say I'm hungry?
Tengo hambre. Do not say soy hambre.
How do you pronounce tengo?
TEN-goh. The g is hard, like go.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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