How to Say "to own" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to own” is “tener” — use 'tener' when referring to common ownership of objects, relationships, or abstract concepts, similar to 'to have' in English..
tener
/teh-nehr//teˈneɾ/
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).
poseer
poh-seh-EHR/po.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!)
Tener vs. Poseer
Related Translations
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