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How to Say "to have" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to have” is “tener” — use 'tener' when referring to possession or ownership of something, or to express age or sensations like hunger or thirst..

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tener

/teh-nehr//teˈneɾ/

VerbA1General
Use 'tener' when referring to possession or ownership of something, or to express age or sensations like hunger or thirst.
A person smiling while holding a new red book, representing the concept of possession.

Examples

Tengo un coche nuevo.

I have a new car.

¿Tienes hermanos?

Do you have siblings?

Ella tiene el pelo largo.

She has long hair.

The Irregular 'Yo' Form

In the 'now' tense (present), the 'yo' (I) form is special: 'tengo'. Remember this 'go' ending, as other important verbs do this too!

Stem-Changing Verb

Notice how the 'e' in 'tener' changes to 'ie' in some forms like 'tienes' and 'tiene'. But it stays as 'e' for 'nosotros' (tenemos)!

Using 'Haber' for Possession

Mistake: “Yo he un libro.”

Correction: Use 'tener' for owning things: 'Yo tengo un libro.' 'Haber' is mostly a helper verb, like in 'he comido' (I have eaten).

haber

/ah-BEHR//aˈβeɾ/

VerbA2General
Use 'haber' exclusively as an auxiliary verb to form compound tenses, like 'have eaten' or 'have seen'. It is not used for possession.
A person celebrating having finished eating a meal, symbolizing a completed action in the past.

Examples

Yo he viajado a España dos veces.

I have traveled to Spain two times.

¿Nunca has probado el gazpacho?

Have you never tried gazpacho?

Cuando llegamos, la película ya había empezado.

When we arrived, the movie had already started.

Your Trusty Helping Verb

Think of 'haber' as a 'helping verb'. It teams up with another verb to form tenses that talk about past experiences. It's always followed by a verb ending in -ado or -ido, like 'he comido' (I have eaten).

Confusing 'Haber' and 'Tener'

Mistake: “To say 'I have a car', a learner might say: 'Yo he un coche.'”

Correction: The correct way is: 'Yo tengo un coche.' Use 'tener' for possession (to have things) and 'haber' for actions (to have done something).

tomar

/toh-MAHR//toˈmaɾ/

VerbA1General
Use 'tomar' when referring to consuming food or drink, or when taking an object.
A close-up of a hand holding and lifting a white ceramic mug filled with steaming coffee towards the mouth.

Examples

¿Quieres tomar un café conmigo?

Do you want to have a coffee with me?

Vamos a tomar unas tapas por el centro.

Let's go have some tapas downtown.

No tomo alcohol, gracias. Prefiero agua.

I don't drink alcohol, thanks. I prefer water.

tomarse

/toh-MAHR-seh//toˈmaɾse/

VerbA1General
Use the reflexive form 'tomarse' specifically for having a snack or a drink, often implying a more deliberate or personal consumption.
A person happily drinking a glass of water.

Examples

Me tomo un café todas las mañanas.

I drink a coffee every morning.

¿Te tomaste la pastilla?

Did you take your pill?

The 'Personal' Touch

Using 'me' or 'te' with 'tomar' (making it 'tomarse') often implies you are consuming the whole thing or doing it for your own enjoyment.

Missing the pronoun

Mistake: “Tomo un café.”

Correction: Say 'Me tomo un café' when talking about a specific drink you are having right now.

pasar

/pa-sar//paˈsaɾ/

VerbA2General
Use 'pasar' when the meaning is 'to spend time' or 'to have a good/bad time'.
Two cheerful friends building a colorful sandcastle on a sunny beach.

Examples

Me encanta pasar tiempo con mis amigos.

I love spending time with my friends.

Pasamos todo el fin de semana en la playa.

We spent the whole weekend at the beach.

¿Pasaste un buen día?

Did you have a good day?

'Pasar' vs. 'Gastar' for Time

Mistake: “Quiero gastar tiempo contigo.”

Correction: Use 'pasar' for spending time: 'Quiero pasar tiempo contigo.' The verb 'gastar' is for spending money or using up resources, not time.

Tener vs. Haber

The most common mistake is using 'tener' when 'haber' is needed as an auxiliary verb. Remember, 'haber' is only for perfect tenses (e.g., 'I have eaten'), while 'tener' is for possession ('I have a car').

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