tuvo
/too-vo/
he/she/you had
This image shows a girl who had (tuvo) a new kite, illustrating possession or reception in the past.
tuvo(Verb)
he/she/you had
?to possess or own something
he/she/you got
?to receive or obtain something
,he/she/you received
?to be given something
📝 In Action
Ella tuvo un coche nuevo el año pasado.
A1She had a new car last year.
Usted tuvo una carta esta mañana.
A2You (formal) had/received a letter this morning.
💡 Grammar Points
A Specific Moment in the Past
Tuvo is a past tense form of tener (to have). Use it to talk about something someone had, got, or received at a specific, completed moment in the past. Think of it like a snapshot: the action happened and it's over.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'tuvo' vs. 'tenía'
Mistake: "Mi abuelo tuvo pelo negro."
Correction: Mi abuelo tenía pelo negro. (My grandfather had black hair.) Use `tenía` to describe how something *used to be* over a period of time. Use `tuvo` for a single event, like `Tuvo un bebé` (She had a baby).
The sudden appearance of the glowing orb illustrates that the person had (tuvo) a brilliant idea or experience.
tuvo(Verb)
he/she/you had
?to experience something
he/she/you experienced
?an event or feeling
,he/she/you felt
?a sensation like hunger or fear
📝 In Action
Él tuvo un accidente pero está bien.
A2He had an accident but he's okay.
De repente, tuvo una idea brillante.
B1Suddenly, she had a brilliant idea.
El niño tuvo mucho miedo durante la tormenta.
A2The boy was very scared (had a lot of fear) during the storm.
💡 Grammar Points
Events and Experiences
Beyond just owning things, tuvo is used for events or experiences that happened and finished, like having a party, a problem, or a dream.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tener + Noun for Feelings
In Spanish, you often 'have' feelings instead of 'being' them. For a sudden feeling in the past, use tuvo. For example, Tuvo hambre means 'He/she became hungry'.
The scene depicts a necessary action, showing that the child had to (tuvo que) go somewhere else, illustrating past obligation.
📝 In Action
Tuvo que salir temprano de la fiesta.
A2He had to leave the party early.
La doctora tuvo que operar de emergencia.
B1The doctor had to operate in an emergency.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Had To' Formula
This meaning is super easy to spot. It's always tuvo followed by que and then a verb in its basic '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form. This combo means someone was obligated to do something.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tuvo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly describes a past state rather than a single completed event?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'tuvo' and 'tenía'?
Think of it this way: `tuvo` is for a snapshot, and `tenía` is for a video. Use `tuvo` for a completed action or event that has a clear beginning and end (e.g., 'He had a baby'). Use `tenía` to describe a background condition, a habit, or how things used to be over time (e.g., 'He had a dog when he was a boy').
Why is 'tuvo' spelled so differently from 'tener'?
`Tener` is an irregular verb, which means its stem changes in some tenses. In this specific past tense (the preterite), the `ten-` stem changes to `tuv-`. You just have to memorize this change for `tener` and a few other common verbs like `estar` (estuv-) and `andar` (anduv-).