tengo clase
/tenɡo klase/from spelling rules
In Spanish, tengo clase is the way to say "I have class".
The phrase tengo clase is used to express that you are scheduled to attend a lesson or a course. You can use the singular form clase even when referring to the general activity of attending a lesson, much like the English expression "I have class." If you want to specify a particular subject, you can say Tengo una clase de historia to mean "I have a history class," or use Yo tengo una clase to mean "I have a class."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of tengo (I have) and clase (class).
How does it change in a sentence?
While tengo clase refers to the general activity or a single scheduled session, you should use the plural form tengo clases if you want to say "I have classes" or are referring to a general schedule of multiple classes.
Did you know?
- While tengo clase refers to a lesson, the word clase can also describe a person with great elegance or sophistication. Someone who is 'classy' in English would be described as having clase in Spanish.
- The word clase comes from the Latin classis, which originally referred to a fleet of ships or a calling-out of citizens for military service.
- Spanish distinguishes between dar clase, used by the teacher who is giving the lesson, and tener clase, used by the student. Using tengo clase while teaching would be logically confusing to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- Tengo clase en una hora.I have class in an hour.This example shows how to use tengo clase to specify a timeframe.Tatoeba #4395566 by pchamorro, translation #2359379 by CK
- Tengo clase mañana.I have class tomorrow.This example demonstrates using tengo clase with a time indicator for tomorrow.Tatoeba #2964 by Shishir, translation #2075 by CK
- La diferencia entre tú y yo es que yo tengo clase.What sets the two of us apart is that I have class.This example shows how to use tengo clase in a comparative sentence.Tatoeba #1154071 by Shishir, translation #10056344 by DJ_Saidez
- Tengo una clase de biología a las 3:00 PM.I have a biology class at 3:00 PM.
- No, tengo clases de matemáticas y literatura hasta las 5:00 PM.No, I have math and literature classes until 5:00 PM.
- No puedo, tengo un curso de fotografía.I can't, I have a photography course.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are talking about their plans for the afternoon.
- Sofía¿Quieres ir al cine ahora?Do you want to go to the cinema now?
- JavierNo puedo, tengo clase a las tres.I can't, I have class at three.
- SofíaEntiendo, ¿es una clase muy larga?I understand, is it a very long class?
- JavierSí, es una clase de dos horas.Yes, it is a two-hour class.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clase, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
