tengo ojos verdes
/tenɡo oxos beɾdes/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I have green eyes" is translated into Spanish as tengo ojos verdes.
This phrase is used to state the color of your eyes. While tengo ojos verdes is a direct way to describe your eye color, you may also encounter soy de ojos verdes when describing your physical characteristics or lineage.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tengo ojos verdes literally means "I have eyes green". It is composed of the verb tengo (I have), the noun ojos (eyes) and the adjective verdes (green).
Which one should you use?
While tengo ojos verdes is a standard way to state the color, soy de ojos verdes is often used to describe physical traits or one's background.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the adjective verdes must be plural to agree with the plural noun ojos. Additionally, it is very common and natural to include the definite article los between the verb and the noun when describing body parts, resulting in tengo los ojos verdes.
Did you know?
- While verdes means 'green', the word verde is also used in Spanish slang to describe someone who is inexperienced or a 'novice' in a particular activity.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, having 'ojos verdes' is often associated with European ancestry rather than indigenous roots.
- Spanish uses the verb tener ('to have') for many states that English expresses with 'to be', such as tengo hambre ('I am hungry') or tengo miedo ('I am afraid').
Examples in context
- Tengo ojos verdes.I have green eyes.
- A veces no noto que tengo ojos verdes.Sometimes I don't notice that I have green eyes.
- Sé que tengo ojos verdes por mis fotos.I know I have green eyes because of my photos.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are talking about their physical features.
- AlejandroElena, ¿de qué color son tus ojos?Elena, what color are your eyes?
- ElenaYo tengo ojos verdes, ¿y tú?I have green eyes, and you?
- AlejandroYo tengo los ojos marrones.I have brown eyes.
- ElenaLos ojos marrones también son muy bonitos.Brown eyes are also very pretty.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
