How do you know when tener means to have and when it means to be?

Question

How do you know when tener means to have and when it means to be?

Answer 1

"Tener" means to have. I'm pretty sure that you are confused by the fact that there are many idiomatic expressions with "tener" such as:

tener frío - to be cold

tener calor -to be hot

tener hambre - to be hungry

tener sed- to be thirsty

tener sueño - to be sleepy

tener prisa - to be in a hurry

tener miedo a/de + noun - to be afraid of something

tener miedo a/de + infinitive - to be afraid to do something

tener celos - to be jealous

tener confianza - to be confident

tener cuidado - to be careful

tener vergüenza - to be ashamed

Now, although we interpret these expressions as "to be...", their literal translations would use "to have". For example, "tener frío" literally means "to have cold/coldness" but we interpret it as "to be cold."

Haha, as I was posting this 5 others responded. I guess I'm a little late... :-P - Nick-Cortina, Nov 1, 2009

Answer 2

Nick-Cortina has already answered this but, given the confusion, an expression/idiom such as "Tengo hambre." may/can/should be translated as "I am hungry." but that does not mean that the components of the phrase can be matched up and assumed to be equivalent. This kind of one-to-one matching works, sometimes, (especially in non-idiomatic utterances) but should not be assumed to be the general rule.

As a counter example (from Japanese), a word-for-word translation of "I am hungry." or "Tengo hambre." would make no sense at all; they would say (translating literally), "The stomach is empty."

Answer 3

I am cold=Tengo frio.

Answer 4

Hi skierboy, what your teacher really means is that the word tener can be used as to be if you translate it from English.

Fact is that tener does translate to to be or to have in English, but it also translates as must , for example. That doesn't really mean that tener and to be are the same verb, for your teacher it is a way of putting it. Rather confusing if you ask me

However, the verb tener is simply used differently to the English word to have.

so sentences like : I am cold, I am hot....are translated with the verb tener in Spanish.

If you post your sentences here, with your own attempt, we will be happy to help

Answer 5

Ah I see. It's their way of saying things. They also say it as tengo 16 años. They translate it as To have 16 years, instead of to be, it's just one of those things that happen in all languages, you have to translate it as to be, not to have. I think I'm drivling on, but:

Tener = To have; Used occasionaly as to be in certain circumstances, and translated into English as to be. You cannot however, say; "tengo cansado" for example, you have to say "estoy cansado"

my teacher told me tener can also mean to be and gave a homework assignment on it to be able to tell the difference - skierboy, Nov 1, 2009

she said tener hambre means to be hungry not to have hunger - skierboy, Nov 1, 2009

hmm, i've not had that one yet - I'm currently sitting Spanish at Higher and so obviously am not fluent. Like I've said, there are always a few occasions where it can mean to be, but only in certain circumstances. If I am wrong, please say:) - Sammy16093, Nov 1, 2009

Answer 6

To say "ser frío" or "estar frío¨, or being any other condition, makes no sense to Hispanic speaking people. You are not that condition, you only have it, for example, you have the flu but you are not the flu.

ser frio-to be a cold person(cold character(a more permanent characteristic) - mmack, Nov 14, 2009

Answer 7

I think this is just the way the Spanish language expresses certain aspects. I may be wrong but it us, English speakers, who are saying tener is to be and not the Spanish.

Answer 8

Yeah, the verbs to be are: Estar and Ser - both irregular, I'm sure there's a lesson on these, both are used in different circumstances. Tener, as far as I know, only means to have.

Answer 9

I am not aware that tener means to be. Can you give an example where you saw this.