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Tener: to have (and to be hungry, cold, 20 years old)

Tener means "to have": tengo dos hermanos. Spanish also uses it for age and many feelings: tengo hambre.

Present: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tienen.

Age: Tengo treinta años, literally "I have thirty years".

Feelings: tener hambre (hungry), tener frío (cold), tener miedo (afraid).

Tener que + verb means "have to": Tengo que trabajar.

Pattern: tener + noun / tener que + infinitive

Practice this lesson

Updated October 21, 2026

Examples

• Tengo dos hermanas.
  I have two sisters.
• ¿Cuántos años tienes?
  How old are you?

In real sentences

• ¿Qué tengo?
  What do I have?
  Tatoeba: Shishir
• ¡Lo tengo!
  Got it!
  Tatoeba: marcelostockle
• Tengo algo.
  I have something.
  Tatoeba: ramonj
• Tengo todo.
  I have everything.
  Tatoeba: wallebot
• Lo tengo.
  I got it.
  Tatoeba: arh
• Tengo de todo.
  I've got anything.
  Tatoeba: wallebot

Before this lesson

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