posee
“posee” means “he/she/it possesses” in Spanish (The subject has ownership.).
he/she/it possesses, you (formal) possessAlso: he/she/it owns, he/she/it holds
📝 In Action
El museo posee una colección de arte muy antigua.
B1The museum possesses a very old art collection.
Ella posee una gran habilidad para la música.
B2She possesses a great ability for music.
Usted posee los documentos necesarios para el trámite.
B1You (formal) have the necessary documents for the procedure.
Word Connections
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Imperfect
Present
Preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: posee
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'posee' most appropriately?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The verb 'poseer' comes from the Latin verb *possidēre*, meaning 'to hold' or 'to be master of.' It has always maintained the core meaning of having control or ownership over something.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'posee' and 'tiene'?
Both mean 'he/she/it has/possesses.' 'Tiene' (from 'tener') is the everyday, casual word used for everything. 'Posee' (from 'poseer') is more formal, often used in written language, legal documents, or when emphasizing a quality or characteristic.
Is 'posee' regular or irregular?
'Poseer' is a regular verb in the present tense (like 'posee'). However, it has some minor spelling changes in other tenses (like the preterite 'poseyó') to maintain the correct sound, making it sometimes classified as a slightly irregular verb.