vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Colocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to place", and "tener" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to have". Learn more about the difference between "colocar" and "tener" below.
colocar(
koh
-
loh
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to arrange)
d. to put up
Cuando mi perro se perdió coloqué carteles en todas partes.When my dog got lost, I put up signs everywhere.
e. to hang
¿Por qué no colocamos el cuadro de Van Gogh en la pared del comedor?Why don't we hang the Van Gogh painting on the dining room wall?
f. to position
Claudia colocó todos sus muñecos sobre la cama.Claudia positioned all her dolls on the bed.
2. (finance)
a. to place
Mark decidió colocar una fuerte suma de dinero en bienes raíces.Mark decided to place a large amount of money in real estate.
b. to invest
Si su perfil de riesgo es conservador, coloque su dinero en un fondo mutuo de renta fija.If your risk profile is conservative, invest your money in a fixed-income mutual fund.
a. to place
¿Cómo hizo Marta para colocar a su sobrino en la empresa de Luis?How did Marta manage to place her nephew at Luis's company?
b. to find a job for
Guillermo colocó a su hijo en el gobierno.Guillermo found a job for his son in the government.
c. to get a job for
Alonso colocó a su primo como chofer de Uber.Alonso got a job for his cousin as an Uber driver.
4. (old-fashioned) (to find a spouse for)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. to marry off
Mi vecino ya colocó a su hija mayor pero le quedan tres más.My neighbor already married off his eldest daughter, but he's got three more left.
a. to palm off on (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mis compañeros de equipo querían colocarme la responsabilidad de lo que salió mal.My teammates wanted to palm off the responsibility of what went wrong on me.
6. (commerce)
a. to place
La empresa espera colocar este producto en el mercado internacional el año entrante.The company is hoping to place this product on the international market next year.
7. (colloquial) (to intoxicate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Esta pastilla te colocará, amigo.This pill will get you high, buddy.
colocarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to get a job
Fernando está tratando de colocarse como médico en el hospital general.Fernando is trying to get a job as a doctor at the general hospital.
10. (to apply)
a. to put on
¿Me enseñas a colocarme las pestañas postizas?Can you show me how to put on fake eyelashes?
11. (colloquial) (to get drunk)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get plastered (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Todos nos colocamos en la fiesta de Alicia.All of us got plastered at Alicia's party.
12. (colloquial) (to get stoned)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Amy y Tina se están comportando raro. - No me extraña. Se colocaron antes de la clase.Amy and Tina are acting weird. - That doesn't surprise me. They got high before class.
tener(
teh
-
nehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to possess)
4. (to wear)
a. to have
La chica que busco tiene lentes de sol y una bufanda.The girl I'm looking for has sunglasses and a scarf.
10. (to measure)
12. (to receive)
a. to have
Todavía no tuve el correo electrónico de confirmación de la empresa.I haven't had a confirmation email from the company yet.
15. (to think of)
16. (used to indicate duration) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Tengo dos años sin verlo.I haven't seen him for two years.
Mis abuelos tienen 40 años de casados.My grandparents have been married for 40 years.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. to have to
Tengo que terminar mis deberes antes de salir a la fiesta.I have to finish my homework before going to the party.
b. must
Tienes que comer todo en tu plato si quieres postre.You must eat everything on your plate if you want dessert.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Tengo pensado ir al mercado mañana.I think I'll go to the market tomorrow.
Tenemos entendido que piensas dejar la escuela.We understand that you're thinking of leaving school.
a. to make
La noticia sobre el huracán me tiene muy nervioso.The news about the hurricane is making me nervous.
tenerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to stand
Este adorno no se tiene sin apoyarlo contra algo.This ornament won't stand without leaning it on something.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Estaba tan mareado que no me tenía de pie.I was so dizzy that I couldn't stand up.
No me tengo de sueño.I'm so tired I can barely stand.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Este muchacho se tiene por muy guapo.That kid thinks he's so attractive.
¿Por quién se tiene tu prima?Who does your cousin think she is?
