Spanish
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in Spanish.
tener ética
'Tener ética' is a phrase in Spanish which translates to 'to have ethics' in English. It is often used to refer to the moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. This can apply to various fields like business, healthcare, politics, and everyday life. When someone is said to 'tener ética', it means that they always try to do what is right - according to their moral code or the principles of their profession.
tener fe
The Spanish term 'tener fe' translates to 'having faith' in English. It is a phrase used to express confidence, trust, or belief in someone or something, particularly in a religious context. It involves the deep spiritual belief and trust in the higher power or God. It can also be used in a more general context to mean the trust or confidence in the possibility of positive outcome. For example, if you're hoping for a good result, you might say 'I have faith' or 'tengo fe' in Spanish.
Example sentences with tener fe →tener fiebre
'Tener fiebre' is a Spanish phrase that translates to 'have a fever' in English. It is commonly used in a medical context or personal conversations to express that someone is sick. This phrase is essential, especially when traveling to Spanish speaking regions or interacting with Spanish speakers.
Example sentences with tener fiebre →tener frío
The Spanish phrase 'tener frío' translates to 'to be cold' in English. However, this phrase does not denote the temperature of a thing or an environment but the feeling of coldness experienced by a person. It is important to note that in Spanish, people 'have cold', unlike in English where people 'are cold'. Therefore, when a person says 'tengo frío' in Spanish, it means 'I am cold' in English, indicating that they are feeling cold.
tener gafas
The Spanish phrase 'tener gafas' translates into English as 'to have glasses'. Generally used in scenarios where someone owns or is wearing eyeglasses. The verb 'tener' expresses the possession of something, in this case, 'gafas' which means glasses. It's important to note that in Spanish, possession is expressed differently than in English, using the verb 'to have' rather than the verb 'to be' when referring to wearing or carrying items.
tener ganas de comer
The Spanish phrase 'tener ganas de comer' translates to 'feel like eating' in English. It is a common phrase used to express desire or a craving for food. 'Tener' means 'to have', 'ganas de' translates as 'desire for' or 'feel like', and 'comer' means 'to eat'. So combined, it literally means 'to have a desire to eat'. This phrase communicates more of an emotional desire or craving rather than physical hunger.
tener garantía
The Spanish phrase 'tener garantía' translates to 'have guarantee' in English. It is often used in the context of assuring that a product or service will operate or perform as advertised for a certain period of time. This can also refer to a legal promise to repair or replace faulty goods during the warranty period. In a broader sense, 'tener garantía' can also imply a sense of security, assurance or certainty about a particular situation or outcome.
tener gripe
The Spanish phrase 'tener gripe' translates to 'having the flu' in English. It is a common term used in Spanish-speaking regions to describe the state of being sick with the influenza virus. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' and 'gripe' represents 'flu'. So literally, it means 'to have flu'. It is used to indicate that someone is ill with the symptoms associated with the flu, such as a fever, cough, or body aches.
Example sentences with tener gripe →tener hambre
The Spanish phrase 'tener hambre' directly translates to 'have hunger' in English. However, in usage it is more accurately translated to 'be hungry'. The phrase is used to express hunger or the need for food. For instance, 'Yo tengo hambre' means 'I am hungry'.
tener información
'Tener información' in Spanish directly translates to 'have information' in English. This phrase is used to indicate possession or awareness of specific knowledge or data. In a sentence, it may be used as 'Yo tengo información' which means 'I have information'. It's an important phrase to know while communicating or sharing information in Spanish.
tener la cama hecha
The phrase 'tener la cama hecha' is a figurative expression in Spanish that translates to 'have the bed made' in English. In common usage, it refers to the notion of keeping things in order, specifically, keeping one's bed clean and tidy after use. More metaphorically, it can be used to signify having one's affairs or tasks in order and can be applied in various contexts beyond just the literal making of one's bed. It is a common phrase that emphasizes discipline, cleanliness, and organization in one's daily life.
tener la casa limpia
The phrase 'tener la casa limpia' in Spanish translates to 'having the house clean' in English. This phrase is often used to indicate the action or the necessity of keeping one's home tidy and free from dirt or clutter. It could be used in different contexts such as in discussion about domestic chores, in showing pride in one's living space, or in emphasizing on good hygiene and cleanliness.
tener la casa recogida
The Spanish phrase 'tener la casa recogida' literally translates to 'have the house picked up'. Yet, in common usage, we understand it to mean 'keep the house tidy'. This phrase is usually used to emphasize the need for ongoing cleanliness and order in a household, rather than a single instance of cleaning. It imparts a sense of responsibility and pride in maintaining a neat and welcoming living environment.
tener la especialidad en
The Spanish phrase 'tener la especialidad en' translates to 'having the specialty in' in English. It is often used in professional contexts to indicate a person's specific area of study or expertise. For example, a doctor might 'tener la especialidad en' cardiology, meaning they specialize in the study and treatment of heart conditions. Similarly, a chef might 'tener la especialidad en' Italian cuisine, meaning they specialize in preparing dishes from Italy. In general, this phrase is used to communicate a level of specialty or expertise in a certain field or domain.
tener la garganta seca
The Spanish phrase 'tener la garganta seca' translates to 'have a dry throat' in English. This phrase is usually used in a context where someone feels a physical sensation of dryness in the throat. This could be due to thirst, illness, or speaking for a long time. It's common to use it when expressing physical discomfort or potential symptoms of illness such as a cold or flu.
tener la mesa puesta
The Spanish phrase 'tener la mesa puesta' translates into English as 'have the table set'. It is often used in the context of preparing for a meal, where the table is set with cutlery, crockery, and other items needed for the meal. In a broader sense, this phrase can also mean to make necessary preparations or to get everything ready for upcoming events or tasks.
tener la piel clara
The Spanish phrase 'tener la piel clara' translates to 'have clear skin' in English. It is often used to describe someone who has unblemished or fair skin. This can be in a general context or in specific scenarios such as in beauty or healthcare. The phrase is made up of several words: 'tener' means 'to have', 'la piel' means 'the skin', and 'clara' means 'clear' or 'light-colored'. These words together form a common phrase in Spanish, demonstrating the descriptive nature of the language.
tener la piel oscura
The Spanish phrase 'tener la piel oscura' is directly translated to English as 'to have dark skin'. This phrase may be used in conversations describing one's physical attributes, specifically the color or tone of their skin. In Spanish, 'tener' signifies 'to have', 'la piel' translates to 'the skin', and 'oscura' means 'dark'. Therefore, when combined, 'tener la piel oscura' means to possess or be characteristic of dark skin.
tener la piel sensible
The phrase 'tener la piel sensible' translates to 'having sensitive skin' in English. It is often used to express when a person's skin reacts excessively to factors that are usually harmless to many people. This reaction might include itching, peeling, rashes or other forms of skin irruption. Such sensitivity can be caused by various elements such as climate, exposure to certain chemicals, and even stress.
tener la piel suave
The Spanish phrase 'tener la piel suave' directly translates to 'have soft skin' in English. It is typically used in romantic or personal grooming context. While 'tener' means 'to have', 'la piel' refers to 'the skin' and 'suave' translates to 'soft'. Hence, when combined, it refers to the condition or characteristic of having a soft skin.
tener la tensión alta
The Spanish phrase 'tener la tensión alta' is an idiom that directly translates in English to 'have the tension high'. In a more contextual translation, it actually means 'have high blood pressure'. This phrase is often used in medical contexts or daily discussions about health. It's not uncommon to hear it used in conversations related to stress, diet, lifestyle, or medical diagnoses. For example, someone might say they 'tienen la tensión alta' because they are stressed about an upcoming event, have been consuming unhealthy food, or have received a concerning medical diagnosis.
Example sentences with tener la tensión alta →tener la tensión baja
The Spanish term 'tener la tensión baja' translates to 'have low blood pressure' in English. This is a health-related phrase commonly used in medical contexts. It denotes the condition where the pressure in a person's arteries is considered too low. Symptoms can include dizziness, fainting, fatigue, or blurred vision. It's important to understand as it might be used in Spanish speaking medical institutions or in casual conversations concerning health issues.
Example sentences with tener la tensión baja →tener las manos limpios
The Spanish phrase 'tener las manos limpios' translates to 'have clean hands' in English. It can be used literally to refer to the state of having physically clean hands. Alternatively, it can also be used metaphorically to imply being free from guilt or corruption, similar to the usage of the phrase in English.
Example sentences with tener las manos limpios →tener las manos suave
The Spanish phrase 'tener las manos suave' translates to 'have soft hands' in English. This is typically used in a literal context, for example when one's hands feel smooth and gentle to the touch. The verb 'tener' means 'to have' in English, 'las manos' means 'the hands', and 'suave' means 'soft'. Thus, when these words are combined, it forms the phrase 'tener las manos suave'.
Example sentences with tener las manos suave →tener las manos sucios
'Tener las manos sucias' is a Spanish phrase, which literally translates as 'to have dirty hands' in English. This phrase can be used to describe someone after they have been working or playing hard, especially in an area where their hands might get dirty. It can also be used metaphorically to say someone is involved in dishonest activities.
Example sentences with tener las manos sucios →tener los dientes limpios
The Spanish phrase 'tener los dientes limpios' translates to 'have clean teeth' in English. It's used in the context of oral hygiene, encouraging the upkeep of clean teeth. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', 'los dientes' means 'the teeth', and 'limpios' means 'clean'. Therefore, combining the individual meanings of these words gives the full English translation.
Example sentences with tener los dientes limpios →tener los dientes sucios
The Spanish phrase 'tener los dientes sucios' translates to 'have dirty teeth' in English. It is typically used to describe someone who has not cleaned their teeth. In a broader context, it can be a reminder or advice for someone to maintain good oral hygiene. This phrase can be seen in both informal conversations and formal writings.
Example sentences with tener los dientes sucios →tener los ojos azules
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos azules' translates to 'have blue eyes' in English. This is a descriptive phrase used in Spanish to describe someone's physical appearance, specifically the color of their eyes. Just like in English, Spanish speakers often use the color of someone's eyes as a defining characteristic.
tener los ojos claros
The Spanish phrase 'tener los ojos claros' translates to 'have clear eyes' in English. This phrase can be used to describe someone with light-colored eyes such as blue or green, but it can also refer to someone who has a clear, uncomplicated view or understanding of a situation.
tener los ojos grandes
The phrase 'tener los ojos grandes' is a Spanish idiom that, translated directly, means 'to have big eyes'. The meaning of this phrase can vary based on context, but most commonly it is used to describe someone who either literally has large eyes, or metaphorically someone who is naive or easy to fool, similar to the English phrase 'wide eyed'. It can also be used to say someone is greedy or always wanting more, similar to the English phrase 'eyes bigger than your stomach'.