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tener

to have

verb teh-NEHR Common

Origin: From Latin tenere ('to hold').

Also means

to be (age/states)

Usage Note

Tener expresses possession and many states that English renders with 'to be': tener hambre/sed/frío/calor/miedo ('to be hungry/thirsty/cold/hot/afraid'). Age is also expressed with tener: Tengo veinte años. The phrase tener que + infinitive means 'to have to'.

Examples

"Tengo que estudiar esta noche."

Natural Translation

I have to study tonight.

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