to have
1. to possess or own something
I have a car.
Eu tenho um carro.
2. to experience or undergo something
She has a lot of work today.
Ela tem muito trabalho hoje.
3. to be obligated or required to do something (with infinitive)
You have to study for the exam.
Você tem que estudar para a prova.
4. to be of a certain age
He is twenty years old (literally: he has twenty years).
Ele tem vinte anos.
5. to hold or contain
This bottle has water.
Esta garrafa tem água.
Ter is one of the most essential verbs in Portuguese and is used far more frequently than 'to have' in English. Brazilians use 'ter' not only for possession but also for expressing age, hunger, thirst, cold, heat, and fear. The phrase 'tem certeza?' (Are you sure?) and 'não tem problema' (no problem) are extremely common in daily Brazilian Portuguese conversation.
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