Translation of Spanish word "tener" to English
tener
/teˈneɾ/
Meaning
VerbTo possess, own.
How to use
The verb 'tener' is commonly used in Spanish to express possession or ownership. For example, 'Tengo un coche' means 'I have a car'. It's essential to note that 'tener' is often used in combination with other verbs to form idiomatic expressions. A crucial grammatical nuance to consider is the use of 'tener' in the present perfect tense, where it can be translated to English as 'have' or 'has'.
🇬🇧 English
to have
Example
Mira lo que tengo aquí: ¡una rana que encontré en la calle!
Look what I have here: a frog I found on the street!
La estufa tiene asa. La camisa tiene mangas.
The stove has a handle. The shirt has sleeves.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- Tener suerte— to be lucky
- Tener razón— to be right
- Tener miedo— to be afraid
More Extended Verbs words
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "tener"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Presente)
Simple Past (Pretérito Indefinido)
Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto)
he tenido
Imperative (Imperativo)
Frequency rank: #49 in Spanish
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Spanish word "tener" mean?▼
The Spanish word "tener" means "to have" in English.
How do you pronounce the Spanish word "tener"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "tener" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "tener"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Mira lo que tengo aquí: ¡una rana que encontré en la calle!" (which translates as "Look what I have here: a frog I found on the street!").
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