poseer
/poseˈeɾ/
The English verb 'own' can be translated into Spanish as poseer or tener.
Meaning: have rightful possession of (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| poseer | /poseˈeɾ/ /poˈseɾ/ (nonstandard) |
| tener | /teˈneɾ/ |
Both verbs express the idea of having rightful possession of something. While English speakers may feel inclined to use poseer to translate the English 'to own' in a legal sense, tener is a perfectly natural choice for most ownership contexts in Spanish.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two depends on the context: poseer is used for abstract qualities or large-scale assets like land, whereas tener is the standard way to say 'to have' or 'to own' in daily conversation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the related adjective propio to mean 'own', you must ensure it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, such as mis propios libros for 'my own books'.
How do you pronounce it?
/poseˈeɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb tener shares a common ancestor with the English word 'tendon'. Both derive from a root meaning 'to stretch'.
- Spanish uses tener to express feelings that English expresses with 'to be', such as tener hambre for 'to be hungry' or tener miedo for 'to be afraid'.
- While poseer means 'to own', it is also used to describe being 'possessed' by a spirit or a strong emotion, similar to the English use of the word.
Examples in context
- La gente quiere poseer tierras.People want to own land.This sentence shows the use of poseer regarding land.Tatoeba #1546434 by marcelostockle, translation #1120860 by cntrational
- Desearía tener una casa propia.I wish I had a house of my own.This sentence shows the use of tener to express a wish for a house of one's own.Tatoeba #1731840 by marcelostockle, translation #264657 by CK
- Quiero tener mi propia habitación.I want to have my own room.This sentence shows the use of tener to express a desire for a room.Tatoeba #831362 by LugoIlmer, translation #258198 by CK
- Tengo mi propio negocio.I have my own business.
- El presidente tiene su propia residencia.The president has his own residence.
- Esta es mi propia opinión sobre el tema.This is my own opinion on the matter.
- Tengo mi propia casa.I have my own house.
- Ellos tienen su propio automóvil.They have their own car.
- Mi hermana tiene su propia habitación.My sister has her own room.
- ¿Tienes tu propio coche?Do you have your own car?
- Tengo mi propia forma de hacer las cosas.I have my own way of doing things.
- Cada uno debe tener su propio espacio.Each person should have their own space.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a rare art collection.
- MateoEs increíble que llegues a poseer estas obras.It is incredible that you come to own these works.
- ElenaSí, Mateo, me costó mucho tiempo conseguirlas.Yes, Mateo, it took me a long time to get them.
- Mateo¿Cuál es tu pieza favorita de la colección?Which is your favorite piece of the collection?
- ElenaEse cuadro es el que más orgullo me da poseer.That painting is the one I am proudest to own.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “own” translations and entries poseer, tener, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries poseer, tener, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
