haberla
“haberla” means “to have it” in Spanish (referring to a feminine noun).
to have it, to be it
Also: must have it
📝 In Action
Tienes que haberla visto. Es una película increíble.
B1You have to have seen it. It's an incredible movie. (Referring to 'la película')
No podemos haberla encontrado si no estaba allí.
B2We couldn't have found it if it wasn't there. (Referring to 'la llave' or similar)
Es posible haberla comprado más barata en otro sitio.
C1It's possible to have bought it cheaper somewhere else.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: haberla
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'haberla'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word is a fusion of the Latin-derived infinitive verb 'haber' (meaning 'to have' or 'to exist') and the feminine direct object pronoun 'la' (from Latin *illa*). The combination is a common feature of Spanish grammar where pronouns are fused to the end of non-conjugated verb forms.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'haberla' one word, but in English, 'to have it' is three?
Spanish grammar often requires object pronouns (like 'la') to stick directly onto the end of the infinitive verb form, making them inseparable. This process is called 'enclisis' and is a key difference from English.
Does 'haberla' mean the same as 'tenerla'?
Not exactly. 'Tenerla' usually means 'to possess it' (ownership). 'Haberla' is almost always part of a complex verbal phrase (like 'must have done it' or 'could have seen it') where 'haber' acts as a necessary helper verb, not an independent verb of ownership.