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How to Say "having" in Spanish

English → Spanish

teniendo

/teh-NYEN-doh//teˈnjendo/

VerbA1General
Use 'teniendo' when 'having' is part of a continuous verb phrase, indicating an action or state that is currently in progress, like 'I am having' or 'we are having'.
A happy child is sitting on green grass, actively holding the string of a bright red balloon.

Examples

Estamos teniendo un día maravilloso en la playa.

We are having a wonderful day at the beach.

Estamos teniendo mucha suerte en este viaje.

We are having a lot of luck on this trip.

Ella dijo que estaba teniendo un poco de frío.

She said she was feeling a little cold (literally: was having a little cold).

El director no pudo asistir porque estaba teniendo una reunión urgente.

The director couldn't attend because he was having an urgent meeting.

Forming Continuous Actions

Teniendo is the 'gerund' (the -ing form) of 'tener'. To show that the action of having/experiencing is happening right now, you pair it with the verb 'estar': estar + teniendo.

Irregular Gerund

Most Spanish verbs change the ending to -ando or -iendo. 'Tener' is irregular because it keeps the vowel 'e' from its stem, leading to 'teniendo' instead of the expected (but incorrect) 'tiniendo'.

Using 'Teniendo' for Permanent Possession

Mistake: “Estoy teniendo dos coches.”

Correction: Tengo dos coches. (Use the simple present tense (tengo) for things you own permanently, not the continuous form.)

Mispronouncing the 'ie' combination

Mistake: “/teh-nee-en-doh/”

Correction: The combination 'ie' acts as a single sound cluster (a diphthong). Practice saying /teh-NYEN-doh/ as a quick, smooth glide.

habiendo

/ah-BYEN-doh//aˈβjendo/

VerbB1General
Use 'habiendo' as a past participle, similar to 'having done' in English, to indicate that one action was completed before another. It often starts a clause.
A child eating a cookie while standing next to an empty plate with crumbs.

Examples

Habiendo comido, los niños se fueron a dormir.

Having eaten, the children went to sleep.

Habiendo terminado la tarea, Juan salió a jugar.

Having finished the homework, Juan went out to play.

Habiendo dicho eso, todavía creo que debemos ir.

Having said that, I still think we should go.

The 'One-Size-Fits-All' Form

Unlike many Spanish verbs, 'habiendo' is a fixed form. It never changes to match the person you are talking about; it stays 'habiendo' whether you mean 'I had', 'they had', or 'we had'.

The Action Order

Use 'habiendo' followed by a 'done' word (like comido, visto, or terminado) to show that one action was completed before the next one started.

Confusing with 'Teniendo'

Mistake: “Using 'teniendo' when you mean 'having done something'.”

Correction: Use 'habiendo' for actions (habiendo comido) and 'teniendo' for physical possession (teniendo un perro).

tomando

toh-MAHN-doh/toˈmando/

VerbA1General
Use 'tomando' when 'having' specifically refers to the act of drinking or consuming a beverage or sometimes food.
A simplified illustration of a person holding a glass of water and actively drinking from it.

Examples

Voy a tomar un café rápido antes de la reunión.

I am going to have a quick coffee before the meeting.

Ella está tomando un vaso de agua porque tiene mucha sed.

She is drinking a glass of water because she is very thirsty.

¿Estás tomando la cerveza o el vino?

Are you drinking the beer or the wine?

El doctor dijo que ella debe seguir tomando sus antibióticos.

The doctor said she must continue taking her antibiotics.

Drinking vs. Taking

While 'beber' means strictly 'to drink,' 'tomar' is far more common in Spanish for having a drink or a beverage.

Distinguishing Ongoing vs. Completed Actions

The most common mistake is confusing 'teniendo' (ongoing) with 'habiendo' (completed). Remember, 'teniendo' is for actions happening *now* as part of a continuous tense, while 'habiendo' signals an action that *finished* before another one started.

Related Translations

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