tengo una mascota
/tenɡo una maskota/from spelling rules
To say "I have a pet" in Spanish, use tengo una mascota.
This phrase is used to state that you own an animal for companionship.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tengo una mascota is composed of tengo (I have), una (a/one) and mascota (pet).
Which one should you use?
While tengo una mascota is the standard way to express this, you can also use tengo un animal de compañía for a more descriptive or formal approach. To express the plural "I have pets", you can say tengo unas mascotas or, more commonly, tengo mascotas.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase tengo una mascota, the subject yo (I) is typically omitted because the verb conjugation tengo already indicates the first-person singular.
Did you know?
- The word mascota was actually borrowed from the French word mascotte, which originally referred to a lucky charm or a talisman.
- In some Latin American cultures, it is common to refer to a pet as el consentido or la consentida, meaning 'the pampered one', regardless of whether they use the word mascota.
- The term mascota is used in Spanish for both a household pet and a costumed team mascot for sports clubs.
Examples in context
- Tengo un perro pequeño y juguetónI have a small and playful dog
- Tengo una mascota en mi casa.I have a pet in my house.
- Tengo una mascota que es muy juguetona.I have a pet that is very playful.
- No puedo viajar porque tengo una mascota.I cannot travel because I have a pet.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are talking about their homes.
- Sofía¿Vives sola en ese apartamento?Do you live alone in that apartment?
- JavierNo, tengo una mascota que me acompaña.No, I have a pet that keeps me company.
- Sofía¡Qué bien! ¿Es un perro o un gato?That's great! Is it a dog or a cat?
- JavierEs un perro pequeño.It is a small dog.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mascota, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
