tenía
“tenía” means “had” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
had
Also: used to have
📝 In Action
Cuando era niño, tenía un perro llamado Fido.
A2When I was a child, I had a dog named Fido.
Ella tenía el pelo muy largo antes.
A2She used to have very long hair before.
La casa tenía un jardín grande.
A2The house had a big garden.
was
📝 In Action
Cuando nos conocimos, yo tenía veinte años.
A2When we met, I was twenty years old.
¿Cuántos años tenía el emperador cuando murió?
B1How old was the emperor when he died?
was
Also: felt
📝 In Action
No desayuné, así que tenía mucha hambre.
A2I didn't eat breakfast, so I was very hungry.
El niño tenía sueño y quería ir a la cama.
A2The child was sleepy and wanted to go to bed.
Tenía miedo de la oscuridad cuando era pequeño.
B1I was afraid of the dark when I was little.
had to
📝 In Action
Tenía que terminar mi tarea antes de salir.
A2I had to finish my homework before going out.
Llovía mucho, así que teníamos que cancelar el pícnic.
B1It was raining a lot, so we had to cancel the picnic.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "tenía" in Spanish:
had to→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tenía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'tenía' to describe a background situation in a story?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Tenía' comes from the verb 'tener,' which traces back to the Latin word 'tenēre,' meaning 'to hold, to keep, to possess.' The '-ía' ending is the standard Latin-to-Spanish development for this type of past tense (the imperfect).
First recorded: Evolved from Vulgar Latin, present in Old Spanish texts.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'tenía' and 'tuve'? They both mean 'I had'.
Great question! It's about how you see the past action. Use 'tenía' for descriptions, habits, or ongoing situations in the past ('Cuando era niño, tenía un perro' - When I was a child, I had a dog). Use 'tuve' for a specific, completed event ('Ayer, tuve un examen' - Yesterday, I had an exam). Think of 'tenía' as the background scenery of a story, and 'tuve' as the main action that happens.