What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'I have desires of' or 'I have the urge of'.
Which one should you use?
tengo ganas de is used for expressing desire or inclination. In contrast, the phrase Tengo la impresión de que means 'I have the impression that' and is used for expressing feelings or impressions in a more formal manner.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the informal phrase Me apetece is used to mean 'I feel like' or 'I fancy'. In Latin America, the phrase Tengo la sensación de que is commonly used to convey 'I have the feeling that'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase tengo ganas de must be followed by either an infinitive verb or a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/tenɡo ɡanas de/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use me siento como to mean 'I feel like [doing something]'. In Spanish, me siento como is used to describe physical or emotional sensations, such as 'I feel like a king'.
Did you know?
- The phrase me apetece comes from the verb apetecer, which shares a root with the English word 'appetite', linking a general desire to do something with the physical hunger for food.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying no tengo ganas can be a socially acceptable way to decline an invitation without sounding overly rude or aggressive.
- While tengo ganas de describes a desire, the word ganas is also used in the phrase dar ganas, which describes a feeling that is forced upon you, such as when a gloomy day makes you feel like staying in bed.
Examples in context
- Tengo ganas de salir.I feel like going out.This sentence shows how to use tengo ganas de with an infinitive to express a desire to go out.Tatoeba #1302449 by hayastan, translation #21991 by CK
- Tengo ganas de llorar.I feel like crying.This sentence uses tengo ganas de to express a desire to cry.Tatoeba #536501 by Leono, translation #19565 by CK
- Tengo ganas de vomitar.I feel like throwing up.This sentence demonstrates using tengo ganas de to express the urge to vomit.Tatoeba #564551 by Shishir, translation #279379 by CK
- Tengo ganas de comer una pizza.I feel like eating a pizza.
- Me apetece salir a dar un paseo por el parque.I feel like going for a walk in the park.
- Tengo la sensación de que obtendremos buenos resultados.I have the feeling that we will get good results.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are deciding what to do for dinner.
- AlejandroTengo ganas de comer pizza hoy.I feel like eating pizza today.
- LucíaA mí no, prefiero sushi.I don't, I prefer sushi.
- Alejandro¿Tú tienes ganas de ir al centro?Do you feel like going downtown?
- LucíaSí, vamos a ese restaurante.Yes, let's go to that restaurant.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
