No tenamos que hacer

Question

It would seem this translates to " We don't have to do it" or "We don't have to make it". Another site though, suggests it translates to "We have nothing to do". So which one is it? And why?

Answer 1

"No tenemos que hacerlo/la" translates to "We don't have to do it/make it" as well as other things because the verb "hacer" has many meanings in Spanish. Note that both "lo" and "la" could be used in this phrasing depending on the gender of what doesn't have to be be done/made. I would translate "we have nothing to do"-"no tenemos nada que hacer".

Espero que te sirva

Gracias. But your site shows you are "advanced". So have you never heard this phrase/ idiom translated as I stated in my post? - t8805jg, Jun 20, 2012

Answer 2

Well, first, I bet you mean ´´no tenEmos.´´

I think the first one you mention is the most common use. I have to. tengo que... You have to. tienes que... or tiene que... We have to. tenemos que... They have to tienen que... etc

Your second: We don´t have to make it, would be ´No tenemos que hacerlo´

I´m not sure about the last one, so will leave that to a more advanced speaker.