Tener: to have, to own
Pronunciation: teh-NEHR (stress the capital letters)
Tener means “to have, to own” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to have, to own
- How to say it: teh-NEHR
- Present: yo tengo, tú tienes
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “tener” means and how to use it
Tener means “to have” for owning things, family, and age. It also appears in many fixed expressions where English uses “to be,” such as tener hambre (to be hungry).
Other translations: to hold (tener en la mano).
How to conjugate “tener”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | tengo | I |
| tú | tienes | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | tiene | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | tenemos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | tienen | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo tuve, él tuvo | I / he or she |
| Past participle | tenido | used with haber |
A closer look at “tener”
Tener expressions with “to be” in English
Spanish uses tener where English uses “to be” for many feelings and states: tengo hambre (I am hungry), tengo sed (I am thirsty), tengo frío (I am cold), tengo calor (I am hot), tengo sueño (I am sleepy), tengo miedo (I am afraid), tengo prisa (I am in a hurry), tengo razón (I am right).
Tener que and tener ganas de
“Tener que” plus an infinitive means “to have to” (tengo que irme). “Tener ganas de” plus an infinitive means “to feel like” (tengo ganas de comer).
Examples with audio
- Tengo dos hermanos.I have two brothers.
- ¿Tienes tiempo ahora?Do you have time now?
- Mi hermana tiene diez años.My sister is ten years old.
Usage tip
In Spanish you “have” your age, hunger, thirst, cold, and fear: tengo veinte años, tengo hambre, tengo frío, tengo miedo. “Tener que” plus a verb means “to have to.”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to have, to own” in Spanish?
“to have, to own” in Spanish is “tener.” It is pronounced teh-NEHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “tener”?
Say teh-NEHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “tener”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “tuve” and “él” is “tuvo.” The past participle is “tenido.”
Practice “tener” for free
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Practice Spanish for free with Leo Read the lesson: Tener Expressions in Spanish: Age, Hunger, Thirst and More