Tener: To Have in Spanish
Tener is an irregular verb. At its core it shows possession (“to have”), but it also powers obligation, age, and dozens of everyday idioms.
Tengo un carro. I have a car.
¿Tienes hermanos? Do you have brothers?
Present tense of tener
| Tener (to have) | |
|---|---|
| tengo | tenemos |
| tienes | tenéis |
| tiene | tienen |
Expressing obligation: tener que + infinitive
Tenemos que estudiar. We have to study.
Mañana tengo que trabajar. Tomorrow I have to work.
Idioms: tener where English uses “to be”
| tener frío | to be cold | tener razón | to be right |
| tener calor | to be hot | tener no razón | to be wrong |
| tener sed | to be thirsty | tener sentido | to make sense |
| tener hambre | to be hungry | tener sueño | to be sleepy |
| tener prisa | to be in a hurry | tener cuidado | to be careful |
| tener miedo | to be afraid | tener vergüenza | to be embarrassed |
Expressing age with tener
¿Cuántos años tienes? How old are you?
Tengo veinticinco años. I am 25 years old.
Use tener like a native speaker
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