lo tengo
/lo tenɡo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I got it" is translated as lo tengo.
This phrase is used to indicate that you have a physical object in your possession.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal phrase Lo pillo is frequently used in Spain to mean "I get it".
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun must match the gender and number of the object you possess. Use la tengo if the object is a feminine noun, and use los tengo if you are referring to multiple masculine objects. If you are referring to multiple feminine objects, use las tengo.
How do you pronounce it?
/lo tenɡo/
Did you know?
- While lo tengo means you possess an object, saying lo tengo during a game of sports can mean 'I'll take the ball' or 'I've got it' to signal teammates to stay away.
- The pronoun lo can be traced back to the Latin word illud, which is a neuter form meaning 'that thing'.
- Depending on the region, using lo pillo can sound very colloquial, almost like saying 'I getcha' in English, making it unsuitable for formal business meetings.
Examples in context
- ¡Ya lo tengo! La respuesta es 24, ¿verdad?I got it! The answer is 24, right?This sentence is useful for expressing excitement about having found an answer using lo tengo.Tatoeba #2411303 by Shishir, translation #2431197 by marcelostockle
- Lo tengo.I got it.This sentence is a simple way to state that you possess something using lo tengo.Tatoeba #5769236 by arh, translation #433472 by CK
- ¡Lo entiendo perfectamente!I understand it perfectly!
- No te preocupes, lo tengo.Don't worry, I have it.
Example conversation
Lucía is looking for her lost cell phone in the living room.
- Alejandro¿Dónde está tu teléfono, Lucía?Where is your phone, Lucía?
- LucíaNo lo veo por ninguna parte.I don't see it anywhere.
- Alejandro¡Mira, debajo del sofá! Lo tengo.Look, under the sofa! I have it.
- LucíaGracias, Alejandro, eres muy atento.Thanks, Alejandro, you are very attentive.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
