If you’d like to say “you have” as an expression of possession, you’d say “tienes“, which is a conjugation of the verb “tener“. Want to say “you have to?” It’s a simple addition, “tienes que…”
Tener is also used to express age, obligation, and idiomatic expressions such as hot/hungry/sleepy. Here are some common examples.
- Tienes 25 años = You are 25 years old
- ¡Tienes que hacer tus tareas! = You have to do your homework!
- Tienes calor = You are hot
As complicated as Spanish verbs might seem to some new learners, always remember that you don’t have to tackle them all at once. Even with a common phrase like “you have,” getting comfortable with the verb “tener” will likely work well in most circumstances. After you’re acclimated, you can slowly incorporate other verbs with more nuanced meanings.
Learning Spanish is within reach for most people, especially if you already speak another major European language. Because English, just as Italian and French, has deep roots in Latin, these languages all share thousands of words with contemporary Spanish. These shared words are called cognates and have significant similarities in spelling and/or pronunciation. That’s why you can find a ton of English words like “absolutely” that look nearly identical in French (absolument), Italian (assolutamente), and Spanish (absolutamente).
In addition to similarities in spelling, you’ll find that Spanish also has a simple system of pronunciation. Unlike English, with all of its special rules, there are only a few irregularities. The standard Spanish alphabet is also a near-exact match to English. It just has 29 letters instead of the 26 you’re used to. The extra three are: ch (chay), ll (elle), and ñ (eñe).
Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion® methodology teaches you the language, not just the words. What makes it effective is that we prepare you to use your new language in your everyday life. So it’s not just about the features, but what you’re able to do because of them. It helps you get ready to handle situations with confidence.
Learn Spanish Words and Phrases
People decide to learn Spanish for many reasons. After all, Spanish is spoken throughout the U.S. It is featured prominently on TV, in movies, and in music. Other people plan to vacation, volunteer or work in one of the 20 countries around the world where Spanish is the official language. Whether your reason for learning Spanish is based on business or pleasure, you can get off to a strong start by focusing first on what matters most, and that is learning basic Spanish words and phrases and how to pronounce them. It is the key to understanding and conversing with any of the estimated 437 million people who speak Spanish fluently.
Unfortunately, new language learners often get caught up in efforts to memorize long lists of Spanish vocabulary words. And then they find themselves frustrated, unable to understand or be understood in everyday Spanish conversations. That’s why it’s important to learn to pronounce and understand commonly used Spanish words and phrases, so you can feel comfortable and confident engaging in conversation with locals.
It’s important to note that Spanish does have some pronunciation distinctions that can make it a bit of a challenge for new learners. As one example, the letter r is pronounced differently and takes some practice for most new learners. This distinct sound is formed by tapping the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth, about a third of the way back in the mouth. Some Spanish language experts counsel new learners to practice making the “tt” sound, as it sounds in the English word butter.
To develop accurate pronunciation, you need immediate feedback on your efforts. Feedback will help you make needed corrections to your Spanish pronunciation. Then you can practice until your mouth is able to readily shape the sounds that make up the language. Rosetta Stone instantly compares your voice to native and non-native speakers and gives you real-time feedback with our patented TruAccent™ speech engine. It’s also adjustable, which allows you to fine-tune your accent. TruAccent is among the most powerful tools for helping you learn and speak the Spanish language.
As soon as you have learned to pronounce basic words and short phrases , it’s a natural transition to learn the longer phrases that make up so much of everyday conversation. Rosetta Stone’s brief, 10-minute lessons are built in just this way, first teaching the basics, then moving onto longer phrases. This approach helps you acquire the skills to understand and be understood in Spanish with confidence.
Try Our Award-Winning App
Surround yourself with Spanish whenever, wherever with the Rosetta Stone app.
Download a unit and knock it out on the train or a flight. Select a 5-10 minute lesson and sneak it in while you wait in line or for your ride to show up. And explore dynamic features, like Seek and Speak, where you can point at an object in the real world and get a translation.
The best part? You don’t have to choose between app or desktop. Both come with your subscription and sync, so you can switch between devices seamlessly.
