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tenga que

have to; must (subjunctive form used in clauses after expressions like "lo que" or in phrases such as "tenga que ver con"), have to; must (subjunctive form, often in dependent clauses)

→ tener
phrase Uncommon #13,556
have to; must (subjunctive form used in clauses after expressions like "lo que" or in phrases such as "tenga que ver con") This is the present subjunctive of "tener que". It often appears in subordinate clauses after words like "lo que" or in fixed expressions such as "tenga que ver con". It does not usually stand alone as a direct equivalent of "have to" in English.
SP: Que pase lo que tenga que pasar.
EN: Let whatever has to happen happen.

No, la esconderé para que Longbottom tenga que buscarla.

No, I'll hide it so Longbottom has to look for it.

— Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal (2001)

Donde no tenga que andar siempre con miedo.

Where I don't always have to walk around in fear.

— Cadena perpetua (1994)

Aunque por ley tenga que hacerlo.

Even though he has to do it by law.

— Leviatán (2014)

Aunque tenga que quemar este Lanka, te llevaré con ella.

Even if I have to burn this Lanka, I will take you to her.

— RRR (2022)

Lo voy a encontrar, aunque me tenga que ir hasta el fin del mundo.

I’m going to find it, even if I have to go to the ends of the earth.

— Pinocho (2019)

Lo que tenga que ser será.

What will be, will be.

Es probable que tenga que ver a los Henneberg en el club a medianoche.

I'll likely have to meet the Hennebergs at the club at midnight.

— Toni Erdmann (2016)

Además, la madre no quiere que su hija tenga que fingir en la entrevista.

Furthermore, the mother doesn't want her daughter to have to pretend in the interview.

— Rental Family (Familia de alquiler) (2025)

Siento que esto tenga que acabar así.

I'm sorry this has to end this way.

— Rang De Basanti (2006)

Ya lo que tenga que darle de comer esta noche.

I already know what I have to feed him tonight.

— Tumbbad (2018)

Quien tenga que decirme algo, que hable con Huey, y Huey hablará conmigo.

Anyone who needs to tell me something should talk to Huey, and Huey will talk to me.

— American Gangster (2007)

No veo ninguna razón por la que tenga que disculparme.

I don't see any reason why I should apologize.

Que pase lo que tenga que pasar.

Let whatever happens, happen.

Diga lo que tenga que decir y márchese o llamaré a la policía.

Say what you have to say and leave, or I will call the police.

— Caché (Escondido) (2005)

Es una lástima que yo no tenga que adelgazar.

It's a shame that I don't have to lose weight.

Odio el idioma inglés y todo lo que tenga que ver con ello.

I hate the English language and everything to do with it.

Espero que Tom no tenga que irse a la cárcel.

I hope Tom doesn’t have to go to prison.

Que no tenga que pedirlo.

So I don't have to ask for it.

— Las noches de Cabiria (1957)

No he dicho que tenga que renunciar.

I didn't say he has to resign.

— Roofman: Un ladrón en el tejado (2025)

Quizás tenga que quedarme ahí un día o dos.

I might have to stay there for a day or two.

— El viento se levanta (2013)

Aunque tenga que usar los puños.

Even if I have to use my fists.

— Dil se.. (1998)

Mi discapacidad no es que tenga que estar en una silla de ruedas.

My disability is not that I have to be in a wheelchair.

— Intocable (2011)

A cualquiera que tenga que responder por otros.

To anyone who has to answer for others.

Lo que tenga que ser, será.

What has to be, will be.

— Un simple accidente (2025)

Tom ayuda a Mary porque quiere, no porque tenga que hacerlo.

Tom helps Mary because he wants to, not because he has to.

Yo te voy a pedir, por favor, que vas a hablar con quien tenga que hablar.

I'm going to ask you, please, to talk to whoever you need to talk to.

— Relatos salvajes (2014)

phrase Rare #39,705
have to; must (subjunctive form, often in dependent clauses) This is the present subjunctive of tener que. It often appears after expressions of uncertainty, possibility, or obligation such as quizás, probablemente, puede que, or in phrases like lo que tenga que hacer. It usually means someone may need to do something, rather than a direct statement of obligation.
SP: Quizás tenga que mandar a hacer de nuevo mi traje.
EN: Maybe I’ll have to have my suit made again.

Quizás Andreas tenga que cumplir diez meses de condena.

Andreas may have to serve a ten-month sentence.

— R.A.F. Facción del ejército rojo (2008)

Quizás tenga que mandar a hacer de nuevo mi traje.

I might have to have my suit remade.

— Kajaki (2014)

Ojalá no te tenga que encontrar de nuevo.

I hope I don’t have to run into you again.

Quizá me tenga que arreglar primero.

Maybe I need to get ready first.

— Una cuestión de tiempo (2013)

Si se va a arreglar, probablemente lo tenga que arreglar ella.

If it's going to be fixed, she'll probably have to fix it herself.

— Una cuestión de tiempo (2013)

Voy a hacer lo que tenga que hacer.

I'm going to do what I have to do.