Tener razón

Question

I was just looking at the various uses for 'tener' when it combines with certain nouns to produce different meanings and came across razón (translating as reason).

According to the SD dictionary, it can be used with tener to say either you are right or you are wrong.

por ejemple: (tú) tienes razón (you are right) or (ellos) tienen razón (they are right)

I therefore assumed that in order to say 'you are wrong', you would just put (tú) no tienes razón. However, the online translation changes from 'you are right' to 'you have no reason'.

I know the translation tool sometimes gives the literal translation, but would I be correct in saying/writing it as no tienes razón, or would I be completely changing the meaning as it suggests?

Gracias

Answer 1

I therefore assumed that in order to say 'you are wrong', you would just put (tú) no tienes razón. However, the online translation changes from 'you are right' to 'you have no reason'.

"No tienes razón" is perfectly acceptable.

While the word "razón," taken out of context, can mean "reason," there are also several verb phrases that are used with the word which give it a different shade of meaning. The RAE gives the following definition:

tener razón.

1. loc. verb. Estar en lo cierto.

This, as you have already surmised, would be along the lines of "to be right."

Placing a "no" in front of the statement has the effect of negating it so that "no tienes razón" (again, as you have rightly surmised) becomes "to be wrong" or more literally "to not be right."

Here are a few examples from various literary sources:

?Creo que en política debes ser los suficientemente grande como para admitir cuando no tienes razón y eso es exactamente lo que he hecho. ? I believe that in politics, you ought to be big enough to admit when you are wrong and that is exactly what I have done.

?Te respondo que en esto no tienes razón ? My response to you is that in this, you are wrong.

?No tienes razón, camarada Nesterenko, no tienes razón? You are wrong Comrade Nesterenko, you are wrong

Thanks Izaoni, very nicely and clearly explained. - Lachicafeliz, Jun 18, 2011

Answer 2

No tienes razón is fine.

Another common way to say this is using equivocado or the verb equivocarse.

"Estás equivocado" or "Te equivocas".

Interestingly enough you can also use equivocarse on the phone to say you dialed the wrong number. "Perdon, me equivoqué (de número)"

Thanks, also useful to know. :) - Lachicafeliz, Jun 18, 2011

Thanks! I have heard this term before, but never actually did look it up. Without looking at context, I would have assumed it to be similar to the English word "equivalent". - danrivera, Jun 18, 2011

Answer 3

I view this as being similar to the English phrase "make a good point".

You could say, "You make a good point."

However, I do not believe I have ever heard the phrase, "You do not make a good point."

The meaning is there, but the English phrase is not commonly used in the negative and would most likely produce confused looks on the part of the listener.

Though, it appears the Spanish version of the negative is more accepted. :-) - danrivera, Jun 18, 2011