What does it mean word for word?
The word tienes is the second-person singular conjugation of the verb tener (to have), meaning "you have". The word tarea literally means "task" or "assignment", which is used in a school context to mean homework.
Which one should you use?
While ¿tienes tarea? is the standard form, you can also use ¿Tienes deberes? or ¿Tienes deberes hoy? to ask the same thing informally. If you want to ask if someone has "any" homework, you can use ¿Tienes algo de tarea?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the plural form ¿Tienes tareas? to refer to multiple assignments. In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, people may use the term trabajo práctico or the abbreviation TP to mean "class assignment".
How does it change in a sentence?
To address someone using the formal "you" (usted), use the form ¿tiene tarea? If you are asking a group of people if they have homework, use the plural form ¿tienen tarea?
When do people say it?
When asked this question, common responses include Sí, tengo tarea (Yes, I have homework) or No, no tengo tarea (No, I don't have homework).
Did you know?
- The root of the word tarea comes from the Classical Arabic word ṭaraḥa, which means 'to throw'.
- The verb tener in ¿tienes tarea? is also used for physical sensations, such as tener hambre to say 'to be hungry'.
- While tarea is standard in the Americas, speakers in Spain predominantly use deberes, which literally translates to 'duties'.
Examples in context
- ¿Tienes tarea de matemáticas?Do you have math homework?
- ¿Tienes deberes de inglés?Do you have English assignments?
- Sí, tengo tareaYes, I have homework
- No, no tengo tareaNo, I don't have homework
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are talking after class.
- ElenaHola Alejandro, ¿tienes tarea?Hi Alejandro, do you have homework?
- AlejandroSí, tengo mucha tarea de historia.Yes, I have a lot of history homework.
- ElenaYo también, es muy difícil.Me too, it is very difficult.
- AlejandroPodemos hacerla juntos en la biblioteca.We can do it together in the library.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tarea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
