Tener is one of the most important and commonly used verbs in Spanish. It means "to have," but it is used not just to indicate possession, but also to talk about age, sensations, obligations, and certain idiomatic expressions. It is irregular in several tenses, so mastering it is crucial for building a strong foundation in Spanish.

Conjugations

Tener is irregular in many forms, including changes from t to ten (tener), teng (tengo), and stem changes e → ie (tienes, tiene).
TenseProbabilitySpanish PronounsSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
Present%yotengoI have
%tienesyou (informal) have
%él/ella/ustedtienehe/she/you (formal) has/have
%nosotros/astenemoswe have
%vosotros/astenéisyou (plural, Spain) have
%ellos/as/ustedestienenthey/you (plural) have
Preterite%yotuveI had
%tuvisteyou had
%él/ella/ustedtuvohe/she/you had
%nosotros/astuvimoswe had
%vosotros/astuvisteisyou (plural, Spain) had
%ellos/as/ustedestuvieronthey/you (plural) had
Imperfect%yoteníaI used to have / I had
%teníasyou used to have / you had
%él/ella/ustedteníahe/she/you used to have / had
%nosotros/asteníamoswe used to have / we had
%vosotros/asteníaisyou (plural) used to have / had
%ellos/as/ustedesteníanthey used to have / had
Future%yotendréI will have
%tendrásyou will have
%él/ella/ustedtendráhe/she/you will have
%nosotros/astendremoswe will have
%vosotros/astendréisyou (plural) will have
%ellos/as/ustedestendránthey/you (plural) will have
Present Perfect%yohe tenidoI have had
%has tenidoyou have had
%él/ella/ustedha tenidohe/she/you have had
%nosotros/ashemos tenidowe have had
%vosotros/ashabéis tenidoyou (plural) have had
%ellos/as/ustedeshan tenidothey/you (plural) have had

They have had enough. (ellos, tener, present perfect)


Han tenido suficiente.

'Han tenido' is the correct present perfect form (ellos/ustedes) meaning 'they have had.'

Usage Categories

Tener is used in various contexts beyond simply signaling possession.
CategoryDescriptionExample (Spanish)Example (English)
PossessionExpressing ownership or possessionTengo un libro.I have a book.
AgeSaying how old someone isTengo veinte años.I am twenty years old.
ObligationsUsing "tener que" + infinitive to mean "have to"Tengo que estudiar.I have to study.
SensationsDescribing physical or emotional sensationsTengo hambre.I am hungry.
Common PhrasesIdiomatic expressions using tenerTengo prisa.I am in a hurry.

Examples

Here are some example sentences for each category of usage.
CategorySpanishEnglish
PossessionTengo dos hermanos.I have two brothers.
AgeMi abuelo tiene ochenta años.My grandfather is eighty years old.
ObligationsTenemos que salir temprano.We have to leave early.
SensationsTengo frío.I am cold.
Common Phrases¿Tienes razón?Are you right?

Tips

  • Remember the stem changes in the present tense (tengo, tienes, tiene, tienen).
  • Use tener que + infinitive to express obligations.
  • Don’t confuse Tener (to have) with Haber (used for compound tenses) or Hay (there is/are).
  • Practice common idiomatic expressions to sound more natural.

Common Idioms with Tener

Spanish ExpressionEnglish TranslationUsage
tener hambreto be hungryTengo hambre. (I am hungry.)
tener sedto be thirstyTengo sed. (I am thirsty.)
tener sueñoto be sleepyTengo sueño. (I am sleepy.)
tener prisato be in a hurryTengo prisa. (I am in a hurry.)
tener miedo (de)to be afraid (of)Tengo miedo de las arañas. (I’m afraid of spiders.)
Tener is an essential verb that unlocks many aspects of everyday conversation in Spanish. Practice its irregular forms and common usages to build confidence and fluency.

She is afraid of spiders.


Tiene miedo de las arañas.

'Tener miedo de' means 'to be afraid of.' The correct preposition is 'de.'

Flashcards (1 of 45)

  • Tense: Present
  • Probability: 100%
  • English Conjugation: I have

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

Loco