What does it mean word for word?
The word mascotas is the plural form of mascota, which means pet.
Which one should you use?
The default form ¿Tienes mascotas? uses the informal tú conjugation, which is appropriate for friends, family or peers. Other variations include ¿Posee usted animales domésticos?, which translates to "Do you own domestic animals?" and ¿Tienes animales en casa?, which translates to "Do you have animals at home?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
¿Tienes mascotas? is used in most Spanish-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use ¿Tiene usted mascotas? when speaking to someone in a formal setting or to someone you do not know well. When addressing a group of people, the form changes based on the region: in Spain, use ¿Tenéis mascotas? when asking a group of people you are on familiar terms with, while in Latin America, use ¿Tienen mascotas? regardless of familiarity.
Did you know?
- The word mascota shares a root with the English word 'mascot'. In Spanish, it refers to any companion animal, whereas in English, a 'mascot' is usually a symbolic character or costume.
- In some Latin American contexts, using the phrase ¿Tienes animales? without specifying mascotas might imply you are asking if they own livestock or farm animals.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, particularly in rural areas, a person might answer ¿Tienes mascotas? by listing the specific roles of their animals, such as 'guardián' (guardian) or 'perro de trabajo' (working dog), rather than just saying 'yes'.
Examples in context
- Sí, tengo un perro y dos gatos.Yes, I have a dog and two cats.
- Sí, tengo un pez y un loro.Yes, I have a fish and a parrot.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are chatting at a party.
- SofíaMe encantan los perros. ¿Tienes mascotas?I love dogs. Do you have pets?
- JavierSí, tengo un perro pequeño.Yes, I have a small dog.
- Sofía¿Cómo se llama tu perro, Javier?What is your dog's name, Javier?
- JavierSe llama Coco.His name is Coco.
