Expressions using TENER

There are some expressions using to be in

English that use the verb TENER in Spanish.

Instead of saying ‘I am’, ‘you are’, etc. with

these expressions, in Spanish you say ‘I have’,

‘you have’, etc.

I am cold I have cold

you are hungry you have hunger

These expressions include:

to be cold tener frío

to be warm (hot) tener calor

to be hungry tener hambre

to be thirsty tener sed

to be afraid (of) tener miedo (de)

to be in a hurry tener prisa

to be sleepy tener sueño

to feel like . . . Tener ganas de . . .

Remember to conjugate TENER before using these expressions!

I am hungry Tengo hambre

you are thirsty tienes sed

he is warm tiene calor

we are afraid of .. Tenemos miedo de . .

you feel like eating tienes ganas de comer

they are sleepy tienen sueño