{"id":1999,"date":"2018-07-08T15:12:36","date_gmt":"2018-07-08T15:12:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/?p=1999"},"modified":"2019-05-17T11:26:44","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T11:26:44","slug":"spanish-tener-expressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/spanish-tener-expressions\/","title":{"rendered":"Tener Expressions: 31 Different Ways to Use Tener in Spanish"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\u201cTener\u201d<\/p>\n

Native Spanish speakers use idiomatic expressions very often, and learning the most common ones will help you understand real conversations well and speak Spanish naturally. Ready to learn some common tener <\/i>expressions<\/span>? Let\u2019s go!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Don’t forget to read about the conjugation of tener<\/a> if you don’t know it yet!\u00a0Tener<\/em> is one of the most used Spanish verbs.<\/p>\n

\n

Tener <\/i>Expressions: Idioms <\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. \u00bfConque esas tenemos? <\/span><\/h3>\n

If a friend tells you: \u201c\u00bfConque esas tenemos?\u201d, it is because he is mad at you, and he does not like what you did or are about to do. <\/span><\/p>\n

Voy a contarle a tu mam\u00e1 que le mentiste.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I will tell your mom you lied to her.) <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a1Ah! \u00bfConque esas tenemos?<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Oh! So, that\u2019s how things are going to be.)<\/span><\/p>\n

2. No tengo donde caer muerto. <\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cNo tengo donde caer muerto\u201d literally means \u201cI have no place to be buried\u201d. Native Spanish speakers use that expression to mean that they have no money. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00bfC\u00f3mo quieres que compre estos zapatos? No tengo ni donde caer muerto.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(How do you expect me to buy these shoes? I don\u2019t have money.) <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Tengo ganas de + infinitive <\/span><\/h3>\n

If you \u201ctienes ganas de estudiar Espa\u00f1ol\u201d, you feel like studying Spanish. Use the expression \u201ctengo ganas de\u201d and an infinitive to mean \u201cI feel like\u2026\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

Tengo ganas de comer pizza.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I feel like eating pizza.) <\/span><\/p>\n

Tener <\/i>Expressions: Physical Conditions <\/strong><\/h2>\n

4. tener fr\u00edo (to be cold) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Olvid\u00e9 mi su\u00e9ter y ahora tengo mucho fr\u00edo.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I forgot my sweater, and now I am very cold.)<\/span><\/p>\n

5. tener calor (to be hot) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Los chicos est\u00e1n sudando. Seguramente tienen mucho calor.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(The boys are sweating. They must be very hot.) <\/span><\/p>\n

6. tener hambre (to be hungry) <\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00a1Mira los perritos! Tienen hambre. No han comido nada.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Look at the dogs! They are hungry. They have not eaten anything.) <\/span><\/p>\n

7. tener sed (to be thirsty) <\/span><\/h3>\n

No he tomado agua todo el d\u00eda. \u00a1Tengo mucha sed!<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I haven\u2019t drank water the whole day. I’m so thirsty!) <\/span><\/p>\n

8. tener tos (to have a cough) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Esteban est\u00e1 enfermo. Tiene tos.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Esteban is sick. He has a cough.)<\/span><\/p>\n

9. tener fiebre (to have fever) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Est\u00e1s muy caliente. Creo que tienes fiebre.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(You are hot. I think you have a fever.) <\/span><\/p>\n

10. tener dolor de cabeza (to have a headache) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Necesito una pastilla. Tengo un dolor de cabeza muy fuerte.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I need a pill. I have a very strong headache.) <\/span><\/p>\n

11. tener sue\u00f1o (to be sleepy) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Ustedes tienen sue\u00f1o porque han dormido poco.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(You are sleepy because you have not slept much.) <\/span><\/p>\n

12. tener cansancio (to be tired) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Hemos trabajado todo el d\u00eda. Tenemos un cansancio enorme.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(We have worked all day. We are very tired.) <\/span><\/p>\n

13. tener mala cara (to look pale)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tienes mala cara. \u00bfTe sientes bien?<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span>(You look pale. Are you OK?) <\/span><\/p>\n

14. tener X a\u00f1os (to be X years old)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mi abuela tiene 85 a\u00f1os.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(My grandmother is 85 years old.) <\/span><\/p>\n

Tener <\/i>Expressions: Mental States<\/strong><\/h2>\n

15. tener miedo (to be scared) <\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00bfEscuchaste ese ruido extra\u00f1o? Tengo miedo.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Did you hear that strange noise? I’m scared.) <\/span><\/p>\n

16. tener celos (to be jealous) <\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00bfPor qu\u00e9 me miras as\u00ed? \u00bfAcaso tienes celos?<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Why are you looking at me like that? Are you jealous?) <\/span><\/p>\n

17. tener envidia (to be envious\/jealous) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Alex te tiene envidia porque tu siempre sales bien en los ex\u00e1menes.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Alex is jealous because you always do well on exams.)<\/span><\/p>\n

18. tener confianza (to have confidence) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Necesitas tener confianza en ti mismo.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(You need to have confidence in yourself.) <\/span><\/p>\n

19. tener verguenza (to be ashamed) <\/span><\/h3>\n

No botes la basura en la calle. No tienes verg\u00fcenza.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Do not throw trash in the street. You have no shame.) <\/span><\/p>\n

20. tener l\u00e1stima (to feel pity\/to be sorry) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Cr\u00e9eme, no le tengo l\u00e1stima.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Believe me, I don\u2019t feel sorry for him.) <\/span><\/p>\n

21. tener pensado + infinitive (to plan to do something) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Tengo pensado salir esta tarde. \u00bfQuieres venir?<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I plan to go out this afternoon. Do you want to come?) <\/span><\/p>\n

Tener<\/i> Expressions: Miscellaneous <\/strong><\/h2>\n

22. tener cuidado (to be careful) <\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00a1Ten cuidado! Ese camino es peligroso.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Be careful! That road is dangerous.) <\/span><\/p>\n

23. tener prisa (to be in a hurry) <\/span><\/h3>\n

No nos podemos quedar mucho tiempo. Tenemos prisa.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(We cannot stay long. We are in a hurry.) <\/span><\/p>\n

24. tener \u00e9xito (to have success) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Tendremos \u00e9xito si trabajamos duro.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(We will succeed if we work hard.) <\/span><\/p>\n

25. tener raz\u00f3n (to be right) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Bueno, digamos que tienes raz\u00f3n.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>(Well, let\u2019s just say you are right.) <\/span><\/p>\n

26. tener la culpa (to be guilty) <\/span><\/h3>\n

El ni\u00f1o no tiene la culpa. No lo castigues.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(The child is not guilty. Don\u2019t punish him.) <\/span><\/p>\n

27. tener suerte (to be lucky) <\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00a1Tengo suerte! Pude comprar el \u00faltimo boleto.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I’m lucky! I was able to buy the last ticket.) <\/span><\/p>\n

28. tener en cuenta (keep in mind) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Ten en cuenta que hay gente mirando.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(Keep in mind that there are people watching.) <\/span><\/p>\n

29. tener que + infinitive (to have to do something) <\/span><\/h3>\n

No puedes salir. Tienes que terminar tu tarea.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(You cannot go out. You have to finish your homework.) <\/span><\/p>\n

30. tener presente (to keep in mind) <\/span><\/h3>\n

Ten presente que estoy feliz por ti.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>(Keep in mind that I am happy for you.) <\/span><\/p>\n

31. tener lugar (to have time) <\/span><\/h3>\n

No puedo ayudarte ahora. No tengo lugar.<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>(I can\u2019t help you know. I don\u2019t have time.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Click here to read our comprehensive guide to all Spanish tenses!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Challenge yourself with Clozemaster<\/h2>\n

Test your skills and see what you’ve learned from this article by playing a selection of sentences with various expressions employing the Spanish verb\u00a0tener<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n