The Spanish language offers a variety of ways to express sensations and feelings. Among the many versatile verbs used for this purpose, tener plays a significant role. In this article, we will dive into the world of sensations and explore six different idioms with tener. This verb can be used to convey different states of being. The following examples of idioms with tener will help you sound like a native.

Spanish Idioms with Tener

The Spanish verb tener does not have one unique meaning. It can mean to have or to possess. For example, Juan tiene un libro (Juan has a book). However, it can also mean to be or to feel as in Juan tiene calor (Juan is hot).

So the verb tener allows Spanish speakers to express a wide range of sensations and feelings. From physical experiences like cold, heat, and hunger to emotional states like fear, tener serves as a versatile tool for communicating sensory perceptions. By incorporating these idioms with tener into your Spanish vocabulary, you will enhance your language skills.

Notice that when expressing sensations, you should use tener with a noun and not with an adjective. This is a common mistake since the English equivalent of these expressions is to be + an adjective.

As they are nouns, they can be only modified with adjectives, not adverbs. So you should say Juan tiene mucho calor (Juan is very hot). Never use the adverb muy because it can only modify adjectives, as in Juan es muy alto (Juan is very tall).

Tener frío (to be cold)

Llevo la chaqueta de invierno, no me gusta tener frío.

I wear the winter jacket, I don’t like being cold.

Nuria necesita tu jersey, ella tiene frío.

Nuria needs your sweater, she is cold.

De noche, si no llevo el abrigo, tengo frío.

At night, if I don’t wear the coat, I am cold.

Tener calor (to be hot)

Voy a ducharme con agua fría, tengo mucho calor.

I will take a cold shower, I feel very hot.

Vamos al río. Tenemos calor en casa.

We’re going to the river. We’re hot at home.

En la costa sur de España, todos tienen calor en julio.

On the south coast of Spain, everyone is hot in July.

Tener sed (to be thirsty)

El perro tiene sed. Bebe agua de la fuente.

The dog is thirsty. It drinks water from the fountain.

Tenemos sed, no queremos café. Preferimos beber agua.

We are thirsty, we don’t want coffee. We prefer drinking water.

Llevamos agua porque a menudo tenemos sed.

We carry water because we are often thirsty.

Tener hambre (to be hungry)

Los niños tienen hambre. Vamos a comprar una pizza.

The kids are hungry. We will buy a pizza.

Tenemos hambre, ¿hay algo para comer?

We are hungry, is there anything to eat?

¿Tenéis hambre? Elena hace una tortilla de patatas muy buena.

Are you hungry? Elena makes a very good Spanish omelet.

Tener sueño (to be sleepy)

Ayer trabajé doce horas. Tengo sueño, me voy a dormir.

Yesterday I worked twelve hours. I am sleepy, I’m going to bed.

¿Tienes sueño? Podemos volver a casa, yo también estoy cansado.

Are you sleepy? We can go back home, I’m tired too.

Cuando estas reuniones son largas, me aburro y tengo mucho sueño.

When these meetings are long, I am bored and very sleepy.

Tener miedo (to be afraid)

Estamos viendo una película de terror. Tengo miedo y no quiero dormir solo.

We are watching a horror movie. I am scared and I don’t want to sleep alone.

Vamos a dormir en una casa muy vieja. Tenemos miedo.

We will sleep in a very old house. We’re scared.

El bebé tiene miedo cuando pongo música en casa.

The baby is frightened when I play music at house.

Exercises

In this article, we have shown a selection of everyday idioms with tener. Let’s practice these Spanish idioms with tener with the following exercises. Remember you can also practice with us idioms with echar, estar, hacer or poner.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Categorized in:

Idioms and Phrases