Tener — to have (and key expressions)
A1Tener means 'to have'. It is irregular, and many feelings that English builds with 'to be' (hungry, cold, afraid, … years old) are built with tener in Spanish.
Tener (to have) is one of the most useful verbs you'll learn, and you'll use it from your very first conversations. It is irregular, so its forms need memorising.
Beyond simple possession, tener appears in a long list of fixed expressions where English uses the verb 'to be'. You don't say 'I am hungry' — you say 'I have hunger' (tengo hambre). These idioms are extremely common, so learning them early pays off fast.
One more high-value pattern: tener que + infinitive, which is the everyday way to say 'I have to / I must do something'.
Structure: tengo · tienes · tiene · tenemos · tenéis · tienen
The forms
The yo form (tengo) and the stem change (e→ie) are the irregular parts.
- yo tengo · tú tienes · él/ella/usted tiene
- nosotros tenemos · vosotros tenéis · ellos/ustedes tienen
- Tengo dos hermanos. I have two brothers. tengo = the irregular yo form
- ¿Tienes tiempo ahora? Do you have time now? tú → tienes (e→ie)
Feelings and states with tener
These use a noun, not an adjective: literally 'to have hunger', 'to have cold'. Intensify them with mucho/mucha, not muy.
- tener hambre / sed = to be hungry / thirsty
- tener frío / calor = to be cold / hot
- tener sueño = to be sleepy · tener prisa = to be in a hurry
- tener miedo (de) = to be afraid (of) · tener razón = to be right
- tener suerte = to be lucky · tener cuidado = to be careful
- Tengo mucha hambre. I'm very hungry. intensify with mucha (a noun), not muy
- Ten cuidado, el suelo está mojado. Be careful, the floor is wet. tener cuidado = to be careful
Talking about age
Age uses tener, never ser. You literally 'have' a number of years.
- tener … años = to be … years old
- Question: ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?)
- Tengo veinte años. I am twenty years old. age → tener, not ser
- Mi abuela tiene ochenta años. My grandmother is eighty. tiene + años
tener que + infinitive = to have to / must
This is the standard, everyday way to express obligation. Just add tener que before the base form of another verb.
- Tengo que estudiar. (I have to study.)
- Tienes que llamar a tu madre. (You have to call your mother.)
- Tenemos que salir ahora. (We have to leave now.)
- Tengo que trabajar mañana. I have to work tomorrow. tener que + infinitive = obligation
- ¿Tienes que irte ya? Do you have to leave already? question form of obligation
Common mistakes
- ✗ Soy hambre. ✓ Tengo hambre. Hunger uses tener: literally 'I have hunger'.
- ✗ Soy treinta años. ✓ Tengo treinta años. Age uses tener, not ser.
- ✗ Tengo muy hambre. ✓ Tengo mucha hambre. hambre is a noun, so intensify with mucha, not muy.
- ✗ Tengo que a estudiar. ✓ Tengo que estudiar. tener que is followed directly by the infinitive — no extra a.