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How to Say "we have" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tenemos

/teh-NEH-mohs//teˈne.mos/

VerbA1General
Use 'tenemos' when expressing possession or ownership, meaning 'we own' or 'we possess' something.
A diverse group of friends smiling together while holding a small, cute puppy, illustrating the concept of 'we have'.

Examples

Tenemos un coche nuevo.

We have a new car.

Tenemos una casa con un jardín grande.

We have a house with a big garden.

No tenemos coche, preferimos caminar.

We don't have a car, we prefer to walk.

Tenemos dos hijos y un perro.

We have two children and a dog.

Who is 'Tenemos' for?

'Tenemos' is the form of the verb 'tener' (to have) used specifically for 'we' ('nosotros' for a group of males or a mixed group, and 'nosotras' for a group of all females).

'Tenemos' vs. 'Hemos'

Mistake: “Using 'tenemos' to say things like 'we have eaten'. For example: 'Tenemos comido'.”

Correction: Use 'hemos comido'. 'Tenemos' is for having things (possession), while 'hemos' (from the verb 'haber') is a helper word used to form tenses that talk about what 'we have done'.

hemos

/EH-mos//'e.mos/

VerbA2General
Use 'hemos' as an auxiliary verb, forming the present perfect tense with a past participle (e.g., 'we have done,' 'we have seen').
Two smiling children sitting at a wooden table with empty bowls and spoons, showing they have successfully finished eating.

Examples

Hemos visitado Madrid muchas veces.

We have visited Madrid many times.

Ya hemos comido.

We have already eaten.

Hemos visto esa película tres veces.

We have seen that movie three times.

¿Hemos terminado por hoy?

Have we finished for today?

Your Go-To Helper Verb

Think of 'hemos' as a 'helper' verb. It always comes before another verb that has an '-ado' or '-ido' ending to talk about things 'we have' done in the past. For example, 'hemos comido' (we have eaten).

Always Stays Together

In a sentence, 'hemos' and the main verb (like 'comido') are a team and almost always stick together. You can't put other words between them. Say 'No hemos comido', not 'Hemos no comido'.

'Hemos' vs. 'Tenemos'

Mistake: “Using 'tenemos' to talk about past actions, like 'Tenemos comido'.”

Correction: Use 'hemos' for actions ('Hemos comido' - We have eaten). Use 'tenemos' for possession ('Tenemos comida' - We have food).

contamos

/kohn-TAH-mohs//konˈtamos/

VerbB1General
Use 'contamos' when you mean 'we count on,' 'we rely on,' or 'we have available' in the sense of resources or support.
Two friends hiking up a hill, one holding the other's hand to help them up a steep step.

Examples

Contamos con tu apoyo para este proyecto.

We count on your support for this project.

Contamos con tu ayuda para la mudanza.

We are counting on your help for the move.

La habitación cuenta con aire acondicionado.

The room has air conditioning (literally: counts with).

The 'With' Rule

To say 'we count on someone,' you must always put the word 'con' (with) after 'contamos'.

Missing 'Con'

Mistake: “Contamos tú.”

Correction: Contamos con tú (correctly: Contamos contigo). You can't just count someone; you must count WITH them.

Possession vs. Auxiliary Verb

The most common mistake is using 'tenemos' (to possess) when you actually need the auxiliary verb 'hemos' to form the present perfect tense. Remember, 'hemos' always comes before another verb (the past participle), while 'tenemos' stands alone or is followed by a noun.

Related Translations

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