tiene un
/tjene un/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "has a" is expressed as tiene un.
This phrase is used to indicate that someone or something possesses or contains a specific object.
Which one should you use?
The phrase tiene un specifically includes the indefinite article "a", whereas the word tiene alone simply means "has".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, speakers may prefer to use poseer instead of tener in some formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use tiene una instead of tiene un if the noun being possessed is feminine. Additionally, use tienen un if the subject is plural (they/you all) instead of tiene un (he/she/you-formal).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget to change the gender of the article un to una to match the noun.
Did you know?
- Spanish uses tiene for expressions that English handles with 'to be', such as saying someone tiene hambre for 'is hungry' or tiene miedo for 'is afraid'.
- In some Latin American regions, the use of tiene un for possession is so standard that using the more formal posee can actually sound overly dramatic or suspicious, like a legal document.
- The word un shares a common ancestor with the English word 'one', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁óynos.
Examples in context
- Él tiene un blog.He has a blog.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tiene un with a digital concept.Tatoeba #2936912 by cueyayotl, translation #2907286 by CM
- Él tiene un hijo.He has a son.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tiene un when discussing family.Tatoeba #3481789 by hayastan, translation #2870268 by Amastan
- Él tiene un perro.He has a dog.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tiene un with an animal.Tatoeba #377225 by hayastan, translation #288121 by CK
- El profesor tiene una pluma.The professor has a pen.
- La empresa tiene un nuevo proyecto.The company has a new project.
- Ella posee un hermoso collar.She has a beautiful necklace.
- La institución posee una vasta colección de arte.The institution has a vast art collection.
- Él tiene una novia muy simpática.He has a very nice girlfriend.
- Mi amigo tiene un coche genial.My friend has a cool car.
- Teresa tiene un chavo talentoso.Teresa has a talented boy.
- Tiene un jardín hermoso.He/She has a beautiful garden.
- Posee un palacio en el centro de la ciudad.He/She has a palace in the city center.
- Mi hermano lleva una mochila llena de libros.My brother has a backpack full of books.
- Juan lleva un sombrero extravagante.Juan has a flamboyant hat.
- 875 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are talking about Daniel's new car.
- DanielMira mi coche nuevo.Look at my new car.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! El coche tiene un color bonito.Great! The car has a beautiful color.
- DanielGracias, también tiene un sistema de sonido genial.Thanks, it also has a great sound system.
- LucíaMe encanta, Daniel.I love it, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
