tiene
“tiene” means “has” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
has
Also: owns, contains
📝 In Action
Él tiene un perro negro.
A1He has a black dog.
La casa tiene un jardín grande.
A1The house has a big garden.
Usted tiene una llamada importante.
A2You (formal) have an important call.
is
📝 In Action
Mi hermano tiene veinte años.
A1My brother is twenty years old.
¿Cuántos años tiene el presidente?
A2How old is the president?
Mi gata tiene solo un año.
A1My cat is only one year old.
is
Also: feels
📝 In Action
El niño tiene hambre.
A1The boy is hungry.
Mi abuela siempre tiene frío.
A1My grandmother is always cold.
Después del partido, el jugador tiene mucha sed.
A2After the game, the player is very thirsty.
has to
Also: must
📝 In Action
Ella tiene que estudiar para el examen.
A2She has to study for the exam.
El doctor tiene que trabajar mañana.
A2The doctor has to work tomorrow.
Usted tiene que firmar aquí.
A2You (formal) have to sign here.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tiene
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'She is 30 years old'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'tenēre,' which meant 'to hold, to keep, to possess.' The core idea of holding onto something has remained for thousands of years.
First recorded: Appeared in early forms of Spanish around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'tiene' mean both 'has' and 'is'?
It's a great question! 'Tiene' itself always comes from 'tener' (to have). But Spanish uses 'tener' in special phrases where English would use 'to be'. Think of it this way: instead of *being* hungry, you *have* hunger ('tener hambre'). Instead of *being* 20 years old, you *have* 20 years ('tener 20 años'). You just have to learn these special phrases.
When do I use 'tiene' vs. 'tienes'?
'Tiene' is used for a single other person ('él' - he, 'ella' - she) or for a formal 'you' ('usted'). 'Tienes' is used when you're talking directly to one person you know well, like a friend or family member ('tú' - you, informal).
Is 'tener que' the same as 'must' in English?
It's very close! 'Tener que' is the most common way to say 'have to' or 'must' and expresses a strong need or obligation. There's another verb, 'deber,' which is also like 'must' or 'should,' but 'tener que' is often used for more external obligations, like rules or appointments.