Spanish Obligation: Using Tener Que for 'Have To' and 'Has To'
Learn to express external obligations in Latin American Spanish with tener que. Say what you and others have to do, like 'Tengo que trabajar mañana.'
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Spanish, to say that someone has to do something because of external circumstances—like work, school, or family—you use the phrase tener que + infinitive. This is different from the more absolute must (deber), which often comes from personal conviction or rules. In this lesson, you'll learn to form sentences with tengo que (I have to), tienes que (you have to), and tiene que (he/she/you formal has to), focusing on everyday obligations. We'll use Latin American Spanish and note regional variations where relevant.
By the end, you can…
- express that I have to do something using tengo que + infinitive.
- tell someone else that they have to do something using tienes que or tiene que + infinitive.
- ask and answer questions about obligations in everyday situations.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Tengo que trabajar mañana.
I have to work tomorrow.
TEHN-goh keh trah-bah-HAR mah-NYAH-nah
Use for your own obligation. Tengo is the yo form of tener.
¿Tienes que estudiar hoy?
Do you have to study today?
TYEH-nehs keh ehs-too-DYAR oy
Informal question to a friend or peer. Tienes is the tú form.
Ella tiene que cuidar a su hermana.
She has to take care of her sister.
EH-yah TYEH-neh keh kwee-DAR ah soo ehr-MAH-nah
Tiene is the él/ella/usted form. Use for a third person or formal you.
Tenemos que llegar temprano.
We have to arrive early.
teh-NEH-mohs keh yeh-GAR tehm-PRAH-noh
Tenemos is the nosotros form. Use for 'we'.
No tengo que ir a la oficina hoy.
I don't have to go to the office today.
noh TEHN-goh keh eer ah lah oh-fee-SEE-nah oy
Negation: no before tengo. Means lack of obligation, not prohibition.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern is tener que + infinitive. Conjugate tener to match the subject, then add que and the infinitive. For example: Tengo que comer. (I have to eat.) Tienes que salir. (You have to go out.) Tiene que descansar. (He/She/You formal has to rest.) The infinitive never changes. To make it negative, put no before the conjugated form: No tenemos que pagar. (We don't have to pay.)
When to use it
Use tener que for external obligations—things you must do because of your job, a commitment, or someone else's request. For example, if your boss says you have to work late, say Tengo que trabajar hasta tarde. If a friend asks if you have to leave, say Sí, tengo que irme. In contrast, deber expresses a moral obligation or strong advice: Debes estudiar. (You must study.) In casual Latin American Spanish, tener que is more common for everyday obligations.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Tienes que trabajar mañana?
Do you have to work tomorrow?TYEH-nehs keh trah-bah-HAR mah-NYAH-nahSí, tengo que trabajar. ¿Y tú?
Yes, I have to work. And you?see TEHN-goh keh trah-bah-HAR ee tooNo, no tengo que trabajar. Pero tengo que estudiar.
No, I don't have to work. But I have to study.noh noh TEHN-goh keh trah-bah-HAR PEH-roh TEHN-goh keh ehs-too-DYARAh, entonces tienes que descansar también.
Ah, then you have to rest too.ah ehn-tohn-sehs TYEH-nehs keh dehs-kahn-SAR tahm-BYENA little context goes a long way
In Latin America, tener que is the go-to phrase for obligations. In Spain, you might hear deber more often in formal writing, but tener que is still common in speech. Note that in some regions, like Argentina, the vos form replaces tú: Vos tenés que trabajar. (You have to work.) This is informal and widely used.
One thing to watch for
Using tener without que, like 'Tengo trabajar' to mean 'I have to work'.
Try this instead: Always include que: Tengo que trabajar. Without que, the sentence is incomplete and does not mean 'I have to work'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'We have to leave early' in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
Tenemos que salir temprano.
Tenemos is the nosotros form of tener, followed by que and the infinitive salir. Temprano means early. Alternative: Nos tenemos que ir temprano is also correct.
2Translate: 'She has to study for the exam.'
Show a sample answer
Ella tiene que estudiar para el examen.
Tiene is the third-person singular form. Para el examen means for the exam. You can also omit Ella if context is clear: Tiene que estudiar para el examen.
3Make this sentence negative: 'Tengo que ir a la escuela.'
Show a sample answer
No tengo que ir a la escuela.
Place no before tengo. This means 'I don't have to go to school' (lack of obligation). If you want to say 'I must not go,' use no debo ir.
Use tener que + infinitive to express external obligations. Conjugate tener to match the subject, and don't forget que. For negative, put no before the verb. This pattern is essential for everyday conversations in Spanish.
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