How can both tengo and estoy be translated as "I'm?"
In another program learning spanish, I'm in spanish is tengo. Why in this program I'm is estoy?
6 Answers
"Tengo: is "to have" from tener. However sometimes there is an overlap in usage between English and Spanish.
For example, in English I say "I'm 42 years old." In Spanish I sayTengo 42 años. Literally "I have 42 years." There are always little exceptions when learning another language. However tener = "to have" estoy = "to be" which brings us to ser. 
So there is a further complication which is when to use ser or estar in Spanish (both are the verb "to be")
For example, Soy Profesor. Estoy enseñando los alumnos.
Here is a flash card link for ser y estar link text
Here is a link for tener link text
Hope this helps.
¡ Tengo 42 años , deseo!
When a phrase that uses "tengo" is being translated into English as "I am," the translation is usually meant to capture the most idiomatic English usage while still maintaining the meaning of the original Spanish expression.
Remember that English and Spanish are different languages, and, as such, each contains its own distinct idiomatic preferences in regards to how an idea is expressed. When attempting a translation, it is generally preferable to choose those translations which best convey the meaning of the original expression rather than get too stuck on word-for-word translations. Often, if you get to caught up in translating "word-for-word," you will find your efforts unsuccessful, disappointing and confusing.
In regards to the use of "tener" vs "estar," it might help to realize that when describing characteristics or states of being, either can often be used (with some exceptions), but the verb "tener" is generally followed by a noun; whereas, the verb "estar" is generally followed by an adjective. This is very similar to the way that English treats the two verbs. The difference, however, lies in the patterns of usage between the two languages in that, one form may be preferable in comparison to what might be preferable in the other language. Here are a few examples that I hope might illustrate this point.
| Tengo hambre – I have hunger | Estoy hambriento – I am hungry/famished |
| Tengo sed – I have thirst | Estoy sediento – I am thirsty |
| Tengo vergüenza – I have shame | Estoy avergonzado – I am ashamed |
| Tengo nervios – I have nerves | Estoy nervioso – I am nervous |
| Tengo celos – I have jealousy | Estoy celoso – I am jealous |
At times there might not be much difference between using estar or tener; while, at other times there might be just a slight difference in meaning between the two. For example:
Tengo miedo (de algo) – I have fear (of something)/I am afraid (of something)
Estoy miedoso – I am a fearful person/I am (generally) afraid.
Still at other times, as alluded to earlier, only one or the other might be used. For example, there is no "estar" equivalent for the [removed]that is, there is no corresponding adjective that could be substituted for the noun "years/años):
Tengo 20 años. – I am 20 years old (literally: I have 20 years)
Likewise, with certain words, such as "frío," using one or the other (tener/estar) can impart a completely different meaning on the [removed]note that frío can be used as either an adjective or as a noun):
Tengo frío – I am cold (literally: I have cold) ? I am physically cold
Estoy frío – I am cold ? I am cold, indifferent, emotionless, unfeeling, etc
Other common uses of tengo to mean "I am" :
Tengo frío o calor. I am cold or hot. Tengo hambre o sed. I am hungry or thirsty. Tengo prisa. I am in a hurry.
Good for you using more than one program to learn Spanish. I am using several programs and I find that to be very valuable. You get a certain amount of review as each program covers something you are already familiar with, and you learn more broadly all the different ways to say things, as evidenced by your question.
In English, we say ''I am 42 years old''.
In Spanish they say, ''I have (tengo) 42 years.
It sounds strange to us, but if you are in a Spanish speaking country and say ''Estoy 42" they will probably know what you mean but might look at you funny.
If your course teaches that ''tengo'' means "I am'' then they are just giving you the equivalent English phrase but not giving you the literal translation and I think sooner or later it is going to get confusing. For instance if you equate ''tengo'' with ''I am'', and someone says "'Tengo libro'', does that mean ''I am a book''? I think not. It means, ''I have a book''
Speaking of cuarenta y dos, click here 
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