tengo fiebre
/tenɡo fjebɾe/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'I have a fever' is translated into Spanish as tengo fiebre.
tengo fiebre is a common way to say that you have a fever. If you want to specify the intensity, you can say tengo fiebre alta to mean 'I have a high fever'.
Meaning: I have a fever (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person singular of tener (to have) and fiebre (fever).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the colloquial expression Estoy engripado/a can be used to say one has a cold or can also imply a fever.
How does it change in a sentence?
Spanish uses the verb tener to express a physical state or symptom like a fever, rather than using the verb estar (to be).
How do you pronounce it?
/tenɡo fjebɾe/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often incorrectly say tengo una fiebre. In Spanish, fiebre is typically used without the indefinite article una in this context.
Did you know?
- While fiebre is the standard medical term, a more colloquial way to describe a fever is through the word calentura, which literally refers to 'heat' or 'warmth'.
- The word fiebre is a 'semi-learned' term, meaning it was borrowed from Latin by scholars and bypassed the natural sound changes that typical everyday words undergo.
- While tengo fiebre describes a medical state, Spanish speakers use the same verb tener to describe feelings like being sleepy (tener sueño) or being hungry (tener hambre).
Examples in context
- Creo que tengo fiebre.I think I have a fever.This sentence is useful for expressing uncertainty about having a fever.Tatoeba #3009788 by hayastan, translation #3010212 by CK
- Me he resfriado y tengo fiebre.I caught a cold, and I have a fever.This sentence is useful for stating that a cold and a fever are both present.Tatoeba #540332 by Shishir, translation #319756 by CK
- Tengo fiebre y me duele todo el cuerpo.I have a fever and I ache all over.This sentence is useful for describing a fever alongside body aches.Tatoeba #862137 by jorgearestrepo, translation #282100 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía feels unwell at home and tells Mateo.
- LucíaNo me siento bien, creo que tengo fiebre.I don't feel well, I think I have a fever.
- Mateo¿Estás segura? Te ves muy pálida.Are you sure? You look very pale.
- LucíaSí, tengo fiebre y me duele la cabeza.Yes, I have a fever and my head hurts.
- MateoVoy a traerte un termómetro ahora mismo.I will bring you a thermometer right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I have a fever” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fiebre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
