tengo un perro
/tenɡo un pero/from spelling rules
To say "I have a pet dog" in Spanish, use tengo un perro.
This phrase is a statement used to say that you own a dog as a companion animal.
Which one should you use?
For example, Tengo un perrito como mascota specifically translates to "I have a little doggy as a pet" and Tengo un chucho en casa uses a slang term for dog.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can use perrito instead of perro to refer to a dog. In Spain, Tengo un perro de compañía is a way to say 'I have a pet dog'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase tengo un perro, the subject pronoun yo (I) is omitted because the verb conjugation tengo already indicates the first-person singular.
Did you know?
- The word perro might not even be of Latin origin like most Spanish words. Some linguists believe it may come from an ancient Iberian language or even from a specific sound used to call dogs.
- In certain regions, the term chucho can shift from being a friendly slang word for a dog to a derogatory term for someone who is cowardly.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a dog a perrito is common regardless of the animal's actual size.
Examples in context
- Tengo un perro en casa.I have a dog at home.
- Tengo un perro muy juguetón.I have a very playful dog.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their favorite animals at a cafe.
- Sofía¿Tienes alguna mascota, Javier?Do you have any pets, Javier?
- JavierSí, tengo un perro.Yes, I have a dog.
- Sofía¡Qué bien! Yo también tengo un perro.That's great! I have a dog too.
- Javier¡Qué coincidencia, Sofía!What a coincidence, Sofía!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries perro, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
