What Does Tengo Mean in Spanish English? | Real-Life Uses

“Tengo” means “I have” in Spanish, and it also turns up for age, hunger, thirst, and a few common feelings depending on the phrase.

You’ll run into tengo on day one of Spanish. It shows up in tiny messages (“Tengo clase”), in daily talk (“Tengo hambre”), and in straight possession (“Tengo un coche”). If you translate each one of those as “I have,” English will sound odd half the time. That’s the whole puzzle.

This piece gives you a clean way to read and use tengo in Spanish and express it naturally in English. You’ll get the core meaning, the set phrases that matter, and the traps to dodge when you’re writing or speaking.

Meaning Of Tengo In Spanish And English Contexts

Tengo is the “I” form of tener in the present tense. In its simplest sense, it points to possession: “I have.” Spanish also uses tener for age and for several daily states that English usually expresses with “to be.” So the meaning isn’t random. It’s tied to the pattern right after the verb.

Think of tengo as a signpost. If what follows is a thing (a phone, a job, an idea), you’re close to “I have.” If what follows is a set phrase (hambre, sed, frío), English often switches to “I’m…” or “I feel…”

What Does Tengo Mean in Spanish English?

Tengo can mean “I have,” “I’ve got,” or “I have to,” and it can also signal common states like hunger or cold in Spanish even when English uses “I’m.” Your best translation choice depends on what comes next.

“Tengo” As “I Have”

When tengo is followed by a noun, it usually maps neatly to “I have.”

• Tengo un coche. → I have a car.
• Tengo tu número. → I have your number.
• Tengo una idea. → I have an idea.

You’ll also hear “I’ve got” in English in the same spots. It’s casual and it matches the tone of Spanish well.

“Tengo” With Age

Spanish expresses age with tener. English uses “to be.”

• Tengo 30 años. → I’m 30 years old.
• ¿Cuántos años tienes? → How old are you?

Leaving out años can happen in casual talk when context is obvious, but “Tengo 30 años” is the safe, natural form.

“Tengo” With Hunger, Thirst, And Temperature

These are fixed daily phrases. English doesn’t say “I have hunger,” so translate the idea, not each word.

• Tengo hambre. → I’m hungry.
• Tengo sed. → I’m thirsty.
• Tengo frío. → I’m cold.
• Tengo calor. → I’m hot.

“Tengo” With Feelings And Quick Judgments

Spanish uses tener in several high-frequency expressions that English tends to say with “be,” “feel,” or “be afraid.” Learn these as ready-made chunks and you’ll use them without thinking.

• Tengo miedo. → I’m scared / I’m afraid.
• Tengo sueño. → I’m sleepy.
• Tengo prisa. → I’m in a hurry.
• Tengo razón. → I’m right.
• Tengo vergüenza. → I’m embarrassed / I feel ashamed.

If you want a primary, Spanish-first definition for the verb behind tengo, the RAE dictionary entry for “tener” lists its main senses and common constructions.

“Tengo Que” As “I Have To”

Tengo que + infinitive expresses obligation. English “I have to” is a close match, and Spanish uses this pattern constantly.

• Tengo que estudiar. → I have to study.
• Tengo que salir. → I have to leave.
• Tengo que llamarte. → I have to call you.

In conversation you’ll also hear “tengo que irme” as a polite exit line. It’s direct, not rude.

How To Read “Tengo” Without Translating Word-By-Word

When you see tengo in a sentence, do a fast scan of the next two or three words. That’s usually enough to pick the English verb.

1. Is a noun next? You’re close to “I have.”
2. Is it a set phrase? Hunger, thirst, cold, fear, sleepiness often become “I’m…” in English.
3. Do you see que? You’re in “I have to…” territory.

Try this with a short line like “Tengo cita mañana.” The noun cita points you to possession: “I have an appointment tomorrow.” Now try “Tengo sueño.” That phrase points you to a state: “I’m sleepy.” Same verb, different pattern, clean outcome.

“Tengo” And The Subject Pronoun “Yo”

Spanish verb endings already show the subject, so tengo means “I have” without yo. Adding yo is an emphasis move. It can mark contrast, correction, or a change in topic.

• Tengo tiempo. → I have time.
• Yo tengo tiempo, pero ella no. → I have time, but she doesn’t.

In writing, this also helps you avoid repetition. You can drop the pronoun most of the time and still stay clear.

Common “Tengo” Phrases You’ll Reuse A Lot

These are the phrases that pop up in travel, work, school, and casual talk. They’re short, they’re useful, and they sound natural.

• Tengo una pregunta. → I have a question.
• Tengo ganas de… → I feel like… / I’m in the mood to…
• Tengo claro que… → I’m sure that… / I’m clear that…
• Tengo entendido que… → I understand that…
• No tengo ni idea. → I have no idea.
• No tengo problema. → No problem.

For an English-facing view of common translations learners see, Cambridge Dictionary’s Spanish–English entry for “tener” is a handy cross-check.

Table Of “Tengo” Meanings By Pattern

These patterns cover most real-world uses. Treat each row like a sentence mold you can fill in.

Spanish Pattern	Natural English	When You’ll Use It
Tengo + noun	I have / I’ve got + noun	Possession, plans, time, money, ideas
Tengo + number + años	I’m + age	Age and birthday talk
Tengo hambre / sed	I’m hungry / thirsty	Ordering food, daily needs
Tengo frío / calor	I’m cold / hot	Comfort, weather reactions
Tengo miedo	I’m scared / afraid	Fear, caution, hesitation
Tengo sueño	I’m sleepy	Late nights, long days
Tengo prisa	I’m in a hurry	Time pressure, rushing
Tengo razón	I’m right	Opinions, disagreements
Tengo que + infinitive	I have to + verb	Duties, plans, errands

“Tengo” Vs “Soy” And “Estoy” When You Translate

Spanish has two main verbs for “to be” (ser and estar). English uses one. That mismatch is why tengo sometimes feels like it’s stepping on “to be” territory.

When English Uses “Be” But Spanish Uses “Tengo”

These are the big ones:

• I’m hungry. → Tengo hambre.
• I’m 25. → Tengo 25 años.
• I’m cold. → Tengo frío.
• I’m scared. → Tengo miedo.

When Spanish Uses “Estoy” Instead

Many adjective states use estar, not tener. That’s why “Tengo cansado” sounds off.

• Estoy cansado/a. → I’m tired.
• Estoy listo/a. → I’m ready.
• Estoy enfermo/a. → I’m sick.

You can also pair them in real life. “Tengo sueño” (sleepiness) and “Estoy cansado” (tiredness) can show up in the same chat, each carrying its own shade.

Pronunciation And Spelling Notes That Save Embarrassment

Tengo is pronounced like “TEN-go,” with the stress on the first syllable. It’s simple, but the letter g matters: it’s a hard “g” sound before o. You’ll also see tengo inside longer verb forms like tendré or tenga, which can look related for a reason: tener has a stem change in several tenses and moods.

Accent marks don’t appear in tengo itself, but they do matter in nearby words like años. Missing the tilde in años changes the word entirely in writing.

Regional Habits You Might Hear

Tengo stays the same across the Spanish-speaking world, but the phrases around it can vary. You might hear “Me da miedo” instead of “Tengo miedo,” or “Hace frío” as a comment on the weather while “Tengo frío” stays personal. None of that changes the meaning of tengo. It just changes what people pick as their go-to phrase.

If you want language-learning material tied to a major public institution, the Instituto Cervantes “Aprender español” page links out to grammar and learning resources connected to standard Spanish usage.

Mistakes That Make “Tengo” Sound Off

Fixing these takes you from “I’m studying Spanish” to “I can use Spanish.”

Using “Tengo” With Adjectives

English speakers sometimes write “Tengo feliz” or “Tengo cansado.” Standard Spanish doesn’t do that. Use estar: “Estoy feliz,” “Estoy cansado/a.”

Overusing “Yo Tengo”

“Yo tengo” isn’t wrong. It just gets heavy if you use it each sentence. Drop yo unless you’re contrasting: “Yo tengo dinero, tú no.”

Translating “Tengo” As “Have” each Time

This one is a classic: “Tengo 20 años” becomes “I have 20 years.” English doesn’t speak that way, so switch to “I’m 20.” Your Spanish stays right. Your English stays natural.

Table Of Quick Fixes For Common Mix-Ups

Use this as a fast check while writing, texting, or practicing aloud.

If You Mean…	Write This In Spanish	Say This In English
Age	Tengo + number + años	I’m + age
Hunger / thirst	Tengo hambre / tengo sed	I’m hungry / thirsty
Cold / heat	Tengo frío / tengo calor	I’m cold / hot
Tiredness	Estoy cansado/a	I’m tired
Obligation	Tengo que + infinitive	I have to + verb
Possession	Tengo + noun	I have / I’ve got + noun
Fear	Tengo miedo	I’m scared / afraid

Present-Tense Forms You’ll See Next

You asked about tengo, but you’ll spot the other present forms right away in questions and replies. Tener is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the neat -er pattern all the way through.

• yo tengo (I have)
• tú tienes (you have)
• él/ella/usted tiene (he/she/you have)
• nosotros/as tenemos (we have)
• vosotros/as tenéis (you all have, Spain)
• ellos/ellas/ustedes tienen (they/you all have)

For guidance on standard usage across regions, the RAE entry for “tener” in the Diccionario Panhispánico de Dudas covers recommended forms and common notes.

Mini Practice Set

Try these out loud, then write them. You can mix and match once they feel easy.

• I’m hungry, but I have time.
• I’m 18 years old and I’m cold.
• I have to leave. I’m in a hurry.
• I have no idea, but I’m sure about this.

If you can handle those without pausing, you’ve got the core of tengo. From there, each new tener phrase you learn plugs into a pattern you already know.