tiene
/tjene/from spelling rules
tiene is a Spanish verb form meaning to possess or hold something.
tiene is used to indicate possession or to describe certain states of being. While English uses the verb 'to be' for these states, Spanish uses tiene. For example, it is used to express age, such as in tiene veinte años (he/she is twenty years old) and can also describe sensations like hunger.
Which one should you use?
While tiene expresses possession, it is distinct in its use for states of being like hunger or age where English speakers would naturally use 'to be'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the informal version of this verb is often expressed as tenés.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form tienen is the third-person plural conjugation, used for they have or you all (plural) have.
How do you pronounce it?
/tjene/
Did you know?
- If you want to say someone is 'right' about a fact, you do not use 'to be', but rather tener razón. This literally means to 'have reason'.
- When expressing a strong desire or need, Spanish speakers use tiene que followed by another verb. This turns the word for 'possession' into a way to express an absolute obligation or necessity.
- The verb tener can be used in the phrase tener cuidado, which means 'to be careful'. In this context, the speaker is not possessing 'care' but is performing an action of caution.
Examples in context
- ¿Tienes un bolígrafo?Do you have a pen?
- ¿Tienes a tu disposición la sala de reuniones?Do you have the meeting room at your disposal?
- ¿Tienes a mano el informe que necesitamos?Do you have the report we need close by?
- Él tiene un coche nuevo.He has a new car.
- ¿Ella tiene la llave?Does she have the key?
- El gato tiene mucha hambre.The cat is very hungry.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are looking for a pen in the classroom.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿tienes un bolígrafo?Alejandro, do you have a pen?
- AlejandroNo, yo no tengo uno.No, I don't have one.
- LucíaCreo que Lucía tiene uno extra.I think Lucía has an extra one.
- AlejandroPregúntale si tiene uno para mí.Ask her if she has one for me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
