tener

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Translating...
have, own, hold, keep, have
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/teˈneɾ/
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To have someone or something within one’s reach or responsibility.
Practice using tener in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • ¿Me tienes la bolsa un momento?
    Can you hold my bag for a moment?
  • Tenemos una casa pequeña.
    We have a small house.
  • Tengo dos hermanos.
    I have two siblings.
  • Tengo el libro en la mano.
    I have the book in my hand.
  • Ella tenía la puerta abierta.
    She held the door open.

Similar words

experimentar
sujetar
sostener
deber
poseer
sentir

Meanings

Possess

verb
possession
neutral
Own or have a person or thing as part of one’s life.

Examples

  • Tengo dos hermanos.
    I have two siblings.
  • Ana tiene un coche.
    Ana has a car.
  • Tenemos una casa pequeña.
    We have a small house.
  • ¿Tienes dinero?
    Do you have any money?
  • Mi abuelo tenía muchos libros.
    My grandfather had many books.

Similar words

poseer

Hold

verb
physical action
neutral
Keep something in one’s hand or in position.

Examples

  • Ten el vaso con las dos manos.
    Hold the glass with both hands.
  • Tengo el libro en la mano.
    I have the book in my hand.
  • ¿Me tienes la bolsa un momento?
    Can you hold my bag for a moment?
  • Ten esta cuerda.
    Hold this rope.
  • Ella tenía la puerta abierta.
    She held the door open.

Similar words

sujetar
sostener

Experience a state

verb
condition
neutral
Feel a sensation or have a physical condition.

Examples

  • Tengo hambre.
    I am hungry.
  • Ella tiene miedo.
    She is afraid.
  • Tenemos frío.
    We are cold.
  • ¿Tienes sueño?
    Are you sleepy?
  • Mi hermano tiene fiebre.
    My brother has a fever.

Similar words

sentir
experimentar

Be a certain age

verb
age
neutral
Have lived a stated number of years.

Examples

  • Tengo veinte años.
    I am twenty years old.
  • Mi hermana tiene diez años.
    My sister is ten years old.
  • ¿Cuántos años tienes?
    How old are you?
  • El perro tiene tres años.
    The dog is three years old.
  • Esta casa tiene cien años.
    This house is a hundred years old.

Similar words

Have to do something

verb
obligation
neutral
Be required or obliged to do an action.

Examples

  • Tengo que salir.
    I have to leave.
  • Tenemos que estudiar.
    We have to study.
  • ¿Tienes que trabajar mañana?
    Do you have to work tomorrow?
  • Ella tiene que llamar a su madre.
    She has to call her mother.
  • Tuvieron que esperar.
    They had to wait.

Similar words

deber

Etymology

From Latin tenēre, “to hold”.

FAQ

What does tener usually mean?

It commonly means “to have”.

How do you say “I have”?

Use tengo.

How does Spanish give someone’s age?

Use tener with a number of years: tengo veinte años.

How do you say “I am hungry”?

Say tengo hambre.

What does tener que mean?

It expresses necessity: “have to”.

Comments & contributions

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