tenéis
/teh-NEH-ees/
you have
Visualizing possession: "Tenéis" (you have) a picnic basket.
tenéis(Verb)
you have
?Possession (plural, informal, Spain)
you hold
?Physically holding something
,you possess
?More formal possession
📝 In Action
¿Tenéis un coche rojo?
A1Do you (all) have a red car?
Tenéis muchas ideas buenas.
A2You (all) have many good ideas.
Vosotros tenéis la llave de la casa, ¿verdad?
A1You guys have the house key, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Vosotros Form
This verb form, 'tenéis', is specifically used with the pronoun 'vosotros' (you all/y'all), which is primarily heard and used in Spain. In Latin America, they use 'ustedes tienen'.
Irregularity
The base verb 'tener' is highly irregular. Notice the stem changes, especially in the 'yo' form (tengo) and the past tenses (tuve).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' for Feelings
Mistake: "Vosotros sois frío."
Correction: Vosotros tenéis frío. (You are cold). Spanish uses 'tener' (to have) for physical states like hunger, thirst, and temperature, not 'ser' (to be).
⭐ Usage Tips
Physical States
Memorize the common phrases where 'tener' replaces 'to be': 'tener calor' (to be hot), 'tener miedo' (to be afraid), 'tener sueño' (to be sleepy).
In Spanish, "tenéis" (you have) is used when talking about age: You are (have) a certain age.
📝 In Action
¿Cuántos años tenéis vuestros hijos?
A1How old are your (all's) children?
Si tenéis 18 años, podéis votar.
A2If you are 18 years old, you can vote.
💡 Grammar Points
Age Rule
In Spanish, we literally 'have years' instead of 'being years old'. Always use a form of 'tener' when talking about age.
Visualizing necessity: "Tenéis que" (you have to) clean your room.
tenéis(Verb)
you have to
?Expressing obligation or necessity ('tener que' + infinitive)
,you must
?Stronger obligation
📝 In Action
Tenéis que estudiar para el examen de mañana.
A2You (all) have to study for the exam tomorrow.
Si tenéis que ir, volved pronto.
B1If you have to go, come back soon.
💡 Grammar Points
Constructing Obligations
To express necessity, combine the verb form 'tenéis' with the word 'que' and then the base form of the action verb (the infinitive): [Tenéis] + [que] + [infinitive].
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tenéis
Question 1 of 2
Which English verb is most frequently replaced by 'tener' in Spanish, resulting in the form 'tenéis'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tenéis' the same as 'tienen'?
No, they both mean 'you have' (plural), but they are used for different pronouns. 'Tenéis' is for 'vosotros' (informal plural, Spain), while 'tienen' is for 'ustedes' (formal plural everywhere, informal plural in Latin America).
If I am learning Latin American Spanish, should I study 'tenéis'?
You should recognize it, but you do not need to use it. Latin American Spanish uses 'tienen' (from 'ustedes') in all situations where a plural 'you' is needed.