Having Spanish Expressions
Tener literally means "to have" and is used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to be on edge, have a heart of stone, keep a promise, and more with this list of expressions with tener.
Tener translations
- to have
- to hold
- to possess
- to contain
- to be*
Tener proverb
Tener un piano no te hace pianista. | Having a piano doesn’t make you a pianist. |
Tener expressions
tener a bien + infinitive | to see fit to, deign to | |
tener a menos + infinitive | to consider it beneath oneself to | |
tener que + infinitive | to have to do something | |
tener corazón de piedra | to have a heart of stone | |
tener un disgusto | to have a falling out | |
tener dolor de cabeza, estómago | to have a headache, stomach ache | |
tener el mundo al alcance de la mano | to have the world at your fingertips | |
tener ganas de | to feel like, be in the mood for | |
tener inconveniente | to mind, object to | |
tener líos | to have difficulties | |
tener lugar | to take place | |
tener mala cara | to look bad | |
tener los nervios de punta | to be on edge | |
tener pájaros en la cabeza | to have bats in the belfry (to be crazy) | |
tener palabra | to keep one's word | |
tener la palabra | to have the floor | |
tener por | to consider to be, to take (someone) for | |
tener una promesa | to keep a promise | |
tener en la punta de la lengua | to have on the tip of the tongue | |
tener que | to have to | |
tener que ver con | to have to do with | |
tenerse | to stand (up) | |
tenerse sobre algo | to lean on something | |
tenerse firme | to stand up straight | |
tenerse por | to consider oneself as | |
tenerse en mucho | to have a high opinion of oneself | |
no poder tenerse | to be exhausted |
* Tener = to be
In many expressions, tener means to be:
tener ___ años | to be ___ (years old) | |
tener ángel | to be charming | |
tener buena estrella | to be lucky | |
tener calor | to be hot | |
tener celos de | to be jealous of | |
tener cuidado | to be careful | |
tener la culpa de | to be to blame for | |
tener éxito | to be successful | |
tener frío | to be cold | |
tener hambre | to be hungry | |
tener madera para | to be made for, cut out for | |
tener mala estrella | to be unlucky | |
tener malas pulgas | to be short-tempered | |
tener miedo de | to be afraid of | |
tener mundo | to be sophisticated | |
tener prisa | to be in a hurry | |
tener razón | to be right | |
tener sed | to be thirsty | |
tener sueño | to be sleepy | |
tener suerte | to be lucky | |
tener vergüenza de | to be ashamed of |
More about tener
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