tenés
“tenés” means “you have” in Spanish (informal, regional).
you have, you hold
Also: you are (e.g., age)
📝 In Action
¿Tenés un minuto para hablar?
A2Do you have a minute to talk?
Tenés que ir al supermercado ahora.
B1You have to go to the supermarket now.
¡Tenés mucha suerte!
A2You have a lot of luck!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
preterite
present
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "tenés" in Spanish:
you have→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tenés
Question 1 of 2
In which country would 'tenés' be the most common way to ask a close friend if they have a car?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Like many Spanish words, 'tener' comes from the Latin verb *tenēre*, meaning 'to hold' or 'to grasp.' The specific form 'tenés' developed much later in certain parts of Latin America as a simplification of older Spanish forms, resulting in the stressed '-és' ending.
First recorded: The root verb *tener* dates back to the earliest development of Ibero-Romance languages (8th-10th century). The *vos* conjugation patterns solidified in the 16th-18th centuries in the Americas.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tenés' formal or informal?
'Tenés' is always informal. It is used when speaking to friends, family, children, or peers in regions where the 'vos' pronoun is standard (like Argentina). You would use 'tiene' (with 'usted') for formal situations.
If I am learning Spanish, do I need to learn 'tenés'?
If you plan to visit or communicate with people from the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay) or Central America, absolutely! It is essential for daily conversation there. If you are focusing on Mexican or European Spanish, you can safely stick to 'tienes'.