How to Say "to have" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to have” is “tener” — use 'tener' when expressing possession, age, or certain physical sensations like hunger or thirst.
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tener
teh-nehrteˈneɾ
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-BEHRaˈβeɾ
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-MAHRtoˈmaɾ
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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-sehtoˈmaɾse
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-sarpaˈsaɾ
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.
poseer
poh-seh-EHRpo.seˈer
Examples
La familia posee varias propiedades en el campo.
The family owns several properties in the countryside.
Ella posee un talento natural para la música.
She possesses a natural talent for music.
Es indispensable poseer el pasaporte para viajar.
It is essential to have a passport in order to travel.
The Spelling 'Y' Switch
In the past and some other forms, when an 'i' is stuck between two vowels, it changes to a 'y'. That's why we say 'poseyó' instead of 'poseió'.
Poseer vs. Tener
Use 'tener' for everyday items like 'I have a dog'. Use 'poseer' for fancy, formal things like 'The billionaire owns three yachts' or when describing deep character traits.
Spelling the Past Tense
Mistake: “Él poseió una casa.”
Correction: Él poseyó una casa. (Remember: 'i' becomes 'y' between two vowels!)
Confusing 'Tener' with 'Haber'
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