tener sentido
/teˌneɾ senˈtido/
To make sense in Spanish is tener sentido.
The phrase tener sentido is used to describe the logical coherence of an idea or to express that a situation is understandable or reasonable. While it translates to 'make sense', you can also use the expression tener lógica specifically when you are referring to logical sense or coherence.
Meaning: to decipher, understand (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb tener (to have) and the noun sentido (sense/meaning), literally translating to 'to have sense'.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which uses the verb 'make', Spanish uses the verb tener (to have) to express that something possesses logic or meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say that something 'doesn't make sense', use the negative form no tiene sentido.
How do you pronounce it?
/teˌneɾ senˈtido/
Did you know?
- Because sentido also means 'direction', the phrase no tiene sentido can be used to describe something that is physically heading the wrong way.
- The verb tener used in this phrase actually originates from a Latin root meaning 'to stretch' or 'to draw'. This suggests that, linguistically, to 'have' something is rooted in the ancient idea of holding something taut or stretched out.
- The word sentido functions as a bridge between the logical and the physical, as it is the same word used to name your five senses, like sight and smell.
Examples in context
- Esto no parece tener sentido.This doesn't seem to make sense.This sentence is useful for saying that something doesn't seem to make sense using tener sentido.Tatoeba #1901160 by marcelostockle, translation #1898117 by CK
- No cabe duda de que la verdad es más extraña que la ficción. La ficción tiene que tener sentido.It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.This sentence is useful for saying that fiction has to make sense using tener sentido.Tatoeba #1189543 by Shishir, translation #667908 by CK
- ¿Por qué no podría la verdad ser más extraña que la ficción? Después de todo, la ficción tiene que tener sentido.Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.Tatoeba #1367291 by marcelostockle, translation #667909 by CK
- El argumento presentado en este estudio tiene sentido.The argument presented in this study makes sense.
- Esa propuesta no tiene lógica alguna.That proposal doesn't make any sense.
- ¡No puedo creer que hayas dicho eso! ¡Eso no tiene sentido!I can't believe you said that! That doesn't make sense!
- ¿Por qué tu hermano no quiere venir a la fiesta? Eso no tiene lógica.Why doesn't your brother want to come to the party? That doesn't make sense.
- Esta teoría tiene sentido.This theory makes sense.
- Las explicaciones no tienen lógica.The explanations don't make sense.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tener sentido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sentido, tener, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
