Introduction
Asking if someone has something is one of the most practical phrases you’ll use when learning Spanish. Whether you’re shopping at a market in Mexico, ordering at a restaurant in Spain, or simply chatting with Spanish-speaking friends, knowing how to ask ¿Tienes…? or ¿Tiene…? will open countless doors in your conversations.
The Basic Formula: Tener in Action
The Spanish verb tener means to have, and it’s your key to asking Do you have…? in Spanish. However, Spanish requires you to think about who you’re talking to before choosing the right form. This is because Spanish distinguishes between formal and informal you, which English no longer does.
For informal situations with friends, family, or people your age, you’ll use ¿Tienes…? This comes from the tú form of tener. When speaking formally to strangers, elders, or in professional settings, you’ll use ¿Tiene…? from the usted form.
Informal: ¿Tienes…?
When speaking casually, ¿Tienes…? is your go-to phrase. Here are some everyday examples:
¿Tienes un bolígrafo?
Do you have a pen?
¿Tienes hambre?
Do you have hunger? (Are you hungry?)
¿Tienes tiempo para hablar?
Do you have time to talk?
¿Tienes hermanos?
Do you have siblings?
Notice how Spanish uses tener with hambre (hunger) where English would say to be hungry. This pattern appears frequently with physical and emotional states in Spanish.
Formal: ¿Tiene…?
In formal contexts, switch to ¿Tiene…? to show respect. You’ll use this form when shopping, in restaurants, or speaking with people you don’t know well:
¿Tiene esta camisa en talla mediana?
Do you have this shirt in size medium?
¿Tiene una mesa disponible?
Do you have a table available?
¿Tiene cambio de veinte dólares?
Do you have change for twenty dollars?
¿Tiene un momento?
Do you have a moment?
Regional Variations Across the Spanish-Speaking World
While ¿Tienes? and ¿Tiene? work everywhere, some regions have their own flavor. In many parts of Latin America, particularly Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America, you’ll hear ¿Tenés…? instead of ¿Tienes…? This comes from the vos form, an alternative to tú.
¿Tenés una lapicera? (Argentina)
Do you have a pen?
In Spain, you might encounter the plural form ¿Tenéis…? when addressing a group informally, though this isn’t used in Latin America:
¿Tenéis planes para el fin de semana?
Do you all have plans for the weekend?
Adding Politeness and Nuance
Spanish speakers often soften requests by adding polite elements. Instead of a direct ¿Tiene…?, you might hear phrases that sound more courteous and less demanding.
Using Disculpe or Perdone
Start with Disculpe or Perdone (excuse me) to catch someone’s attention politely:
Disculpe, ¿tiene la hora?
Excuse me, do you have the time?
Perdone, ¿tiene un mapa de la ciudad?
Excuse me, do you have a city map?
The Conditional Tense
For extra politeness, especially when making requests in stores or restaurants, use tendría (the conditional form of tener):
¿Tendría una talla más grande?
Would you have a larger size?
¿Tendría algo más económico?
Would you have something more economical?
This construction is similar to saying Would you have…? in English, and it sounds considerably more polite than the direct present tense.
Common Expressions Using Tener
Spanish uses tener in many idiomatic expressions where English uses different verbs. Learning these will make your Spanish sound more natural.
Physical States
¿Tienes frío? – Are you cold? (literally: Do you have cold?)
¿Tienes calor? – Are you hot?
¿Tienes sed? – Are you thirsty?
¿Tienes sueño? – Are you sleepy?
Emotions and Feelings
¿Tienes miedo? – Are you scared?
¿Tienes vergüenza? – Are you embarrassed?
¿Tienes ganas de salir? – Do you feel like going out?
Age and Obligations
¿Cuántos años tienes? – How old are you? (literally: How many years do you have?)
¿Tienes que trabajar mañana? – Do you have to work tomorrow?
Negative Forms: Don’t You Have…?
To ask if someone doesn’t have something, simply add no before the verb:
¿No tienes clase hoy?
Don’t you have class today?
¿No tiene wifi aquí?
Don’t you have wifi here?
Spanish speakers often use this negative question form when they’re surprised or when they expected something different.
Talking About Other People: Does He/She Have…?
When asking about a third person, use the same form as the formal you: ¿Tiene…?
¿Tiene María el libro?
Does María have the book?
¿Tiene tu hermano un coche?
Does your brother have a car?
For plural subjects (they), use ¿Tienen…?:
¿Tienen ellos experiencia?
Do they have experience?
Shopping and Restaurant Scenarios
These practical situations are where you’ll use these phrases most frequently as a traveler or language learner.
At a Store
¿Tiene esto en otro color?
Do you have this in another color?
¿Tiene productos sin gluten?
Do you have gluten-free products?
¿Tiene descuento?
Do you have a discount?
At a Restaurant
¿Tiene menú vegetariano?
Do you have a vegetarian menu?
¿Tiene vino tinto?
Do you have red wine?
¿Tiene especiales hoy?
Do you have specials today?
At a Hotel
¿Tiene habitaciones disponibles?
Do you have rooms available?
¿Tiene servicio de lavandería?
Do you have laundry service?
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to internalize these phrases is through regular practice. Start by describing what you have and don’t have using Tengo (I have) and No tengo (I don’t have). Then practice asking questions using ¿Tienes…? with a language partner or tutor.
Try creating sentences about your daily life. Look around your room and practice asking: ¿Tienes una computadora?, ¿Tienes libros en español?, ¿Tienes plantas? The more you practice with real objects and situations, the more natural these phrases will become.
Remember that language learning is about communication, not perfection. Even if you occasionally mix up formal and informal forms, native speakers will appreciate your effort and usually understand your meaning from context.
Conclusion
Mastering ¿Tienes…? and ¿Tiene…? gives you a powerful tool for navigating countless situations in Spanish. From casual conversations with friends to formal interactions in shops and restaurants, this simple question structure will serve you well throughout your Spanish learning journey. Practice these forms regularly, pay attention to context, and soon asking Do you have…? in Spanish will feel completely natural.
