tienes
“tienes” means “you have” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
you have
Also: you've got
📝 In Action
¿Tienes un bolígrafo?
A1Do you have a pen?
Tienes una casa muy bonita.
A1You have a very beautiful house.
Veo que tienes un coche nuevo.
A2I see you have a new car.
you are ... years old
📝 In Action
¿Cuántos años tienes?
A1How old are you?
Tienes veinte años, ¿verdad?
A1You are twenty years old, right?
you are
📝 In Action
Si tienes sed, aquí hay agua.
A1If you are thirsty, here is some water.
¿Tienes frío? Cierra la ventana.
A1Are you cold? Close the window.
Parece que tienes miedo de la oscuridad.
A2It seems like you are afraid of the dark.
you have to
Also: you must
📝 In Action
Tienes que estudiar para el examen.
A2You have to study for the exam.
Para ir al centro, tienes que tomar el autobús.
A2To go downtown, you have to take the bus.
Lo siento, tienes que esperar tu turno.
B1I'm sorry, you have to wait your turn.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tienes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'You are sleepy' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'tenēre', which means 'to hold, to keep, or to possess.' Many Spanish verbs related to holding or keeping something, like 'mantener' (to maintain) and 'sostener' (to sustain), share this root.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you use 'tienes' for age ('tienes 20 años') instead of 'eres' (you are)?
It's a great question because it's a major difference from English! In Spanish, the idea is that you 'possess' or 'have accumulated' years of life. So, you use the verb for possession, 'tener', to talk about age. You literally say 'You have 20 years'.
What's the difference between 'tienes' and 'tiene'?
'Tienes' (with an 's') is what you use when talking to one person you know well (the informal 'tú' form). 'Tiene' (without the 's') is for talking to someone formally ('usted'), or when talking about a third person ('él' - he, or 'ella' - she).
Is 'tienes que' the same as 'debes'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable, but there's a slight difference. 'Tienes que' usually implies an external obligation or a necessity (e.g., 'Tienes que pagar' - You have to pay). 'Debes' can feel more like a moral duty or strong advice (e.g., 'Debes ser honesto' - You should be honest). For beginners, you can use 'tienes que' for most 'have to' situations.