The Spanish verb tener means “to have” — and it is one of the first verbs every learner needs, because it shows up everywhere: describing what you own, how old you are, how you feel, and what you have to do. It is also irregular, so it is worth learning carefully. This guide walks you through what tener means, how to conjugate it in the present tense, the common expressions that use it, and how to practice it in real conversation.
Tener at a glance
- Meaning: to have, to possess (and, in many expressions, “to be”).
- Type: an irregular -ER verb that both stem-changes (e→ie) and is a yo-go verb (yo tengo).
- Present tense: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen.
What does “tener” mean?
In its base form, tener means to have or to possess — “I have a car,” “she has two brothers.” It works just like the English verb “to have” when you are talking about owning something. But tener also appears in many common expressions where English would use “to be” (for example, “to be hungry” or “to be 30 years old”). We will cover those below, because they are some of the most useful phrases you can learn.
Tener conjugation in the present tense
Because tener ends in -ER, it starts from the regular -ER endings, but two things make it irregular: the yo form adds a -g- (tengo), and the stem changes from e to ie in every form except yo, nosotros and vosotros.
| Subject | Tener (present) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tengo | I have |
| Tú | tienes | You have (informal) |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tiene | He / She / You (formal) have |
| Nosotros(as) | tenemos | We have |
| Vosotros(as) | tenéis | You all have (Spain) |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tienen | They / You all have |
Why the “yo” form is special
Notice that yo tengo does not stem-change like the others — instead it adds a g. That makes tener part of the small “yo-go” family (like hacer→hago, poner→pongo). If you have already met another stem-change verb such as querer (to want), the e→ie pattern in the other forms will look familiar.
Tener expressions you’ll actually use
Here is where tener becomes really practical. Spanish uses tener + a noun for many states that English expresses with “to be.” These expressions come up constantly in real conversation, so they are worth memorizing as whole phrases.
| Spanish | Literal | Natural English |
|---|---|---|
| tener años | to have years | to be ___ years old |
| tener hambre | to have hunger | to be hungry |
| tener sed | to have thirst | to be thirsty |
| tener frío / calor | to have cold / heat | to be cold / hot |
| tener prisa | to have hurry | to be in a hurry |
| tener sueño | to have sleep | to be sleepy |
| tener miedo | to have fear | to be afraid |
| tener ganas de | to have desire of | to feel like (doing something) |
Examples: Tengo treinta años. (I am 30 years old.) · ¿Tienes hambre? (Are you hungry?) · Tenemos prisa. (We are in a hurry.)
Tener que = “to have to”
One more high-value pattern: tener que + infinitive means to have to do something. It is how you talk about obligations and plans every day.
- Tengo que trabajar mañana. – I have to work tomorrow.
- Tienes que practicar un poco cada día. – You have to practice a little every day.
- Tenemos que llamar al cliente. – We have to call the client.
Real-world and workplace examples
Because tener covers possession, age, feelings, and obligations, it is one of the verbs that pays off fastest at work and while traveling:
- Healthcare: ¿Tiene dolor aquí? – Do you have pain here? · El paciente tiene fiebre. – The patient has a fever.
- Hospitality: ¿Tienen una reservación? – Do you have a reservation?
- Everyday: Tengo dos hijos. – I have two children.
Keep practicing tener
Tables make conjugation look simple, but using tener naturally — choosing the right form mid-sentence and reaching for the right expression — takes real practice. Build sentences about your own life, then work through the exercises and quizzes in our free Spanish A1 lessons. Not sure of your level? Take the free Spanish placement test.
Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate tener in the present tense?
Tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen. The yo form adds a -g- (tengo), and the stem changes from e to ie in every form except yo (tengo), nosotros (tenemos) and vosotros (tenéis).
What does tener mean in Spanish?
Tener means “to have” or “to possess.” It is also used in many fixed expressions — like tener hambre (to be hungry) or tener años (to be a certain age) — where English uses “to be.”
Is tener irregular?
Yes. Tener is irregular in two ways: it is a yo-go verb (yo tengo) and a stem-change verb (e→ie), so it does not follow the regular -ER pattern in most present-tense forms.
What is the difference between tener and tener que?
Tener on its own means “to have” (possession). Tener que + an infinitive means “to have to” do something — for example, Tengo que estudiar (I have to study).