no tenías

you didn't have

→ no

phrase Uncommon #12,921

you didn't have The informal tú form of the imperfect tense of tener. Depending on what follows, it can also mean “you didn't have to,” “you weren't supposed to,” or “you weren't.”

SP: No tenías que preocuparte por eso.

EN: You didn't have to worry about that.

Anoche dijiste que no tenías una llave.

Last night you said you didn't have a key.

— El jardín de los pecadores: Paradigma paradoja (Paradoja espiral) (2008)

No tenías derecho de arriesgar mi vida.

You had no right to risk my life.

— Tropa de élite (2007)

No tenías necesidad de tomarte la molestia.

You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.

No tenías por qué volver, Calcifer.

You didn't have to come back, Calcifer.

— El castillo ambulante (2004)

Pensé que no tenías familia.

I thought you didn't have a family.

Charlie, no tenías derecho a hacer algo así.

Charlie, you had no right to do something like that.

— El club de los poetas muertos (1989)

No tenías fiebre?

Didn't you have a fever?

— Perfectos desconocidos (2016)

No tenías para qué venir.

You didn't need to come.

No tenías por qué.

You didn't have to.

— Hunting Season (2025)

Como no tenías cobertura, llamé a la Agustina.

Since you didn't have coverage, I called Agustina.

— Volver (2006)

Casi no tenías contacto con tu madre desde hacía años!

You'd barely been in touch with your mother for years!

— Volver (2006)

No tenías calor.

You weren't hot.

No tenías más que decírmelo, y te las hubiese encontrado.

You only had to tell me, and I would have found them for you.

— La noche americana (1973)

Al parecer no tenías que hacer eso.

Apparently, you weren’t supposed to do that.

Cuando nos conocimos, no tenías ni idea de quién era yo.

When we met, you had no idea who I was.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

No tenías por qué hacerlo.

You didn't have to do it.

Pensé que no tenías dinero.

I thought you didn’t have any money.

No tenías que comprar tanto.

You didn't have to buy so much.

— Madre (Madeo) (2009)

No tenías esto antes.

You didn't have this before.

— Quemado por el sol (1994)

Para ti es fácil decirlo, Santa, tú no tenías hijos ni mujer.

It’s easy for you to say, Santa; you didn’t have a wife or children.

— Los lunes al sol (2002)

No tenías para qué decirme todo eso.

You didn't have to tell me all that.

Pero cuando no tenías los guantes tocaste los ojos.

But when you didn't have the gloves you touched the eyes.

No tenías por qué, güey.

You didn't have to do that, man.

— Y tu mamá también (2001)

Entonces no tenías problemas de drogas.

So you didn't have drug problems.

— Los Tenenbaums. Una familia de genios (2001)

No tenías las cargas que tienes ahora.

You didn't have the burdens you have now.

— El señor de los anillos: La comunidad del anillo (2001)

No tenías por qué esperarme.

You didn't have to wait for me.

Y tú, ¿no tenías que estar en El Salvador?

And you, weren't you supposed to be in El Salvador?

— Todo sobre mi madre (1999)