tené

[t̪eˈne]

/[t̪eˈne]/ verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“tené” is uncommon Spanish (frequency #50,602 among 34,400 “T” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#50,602
frequency rank, Spanish
34,400
“T” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de tener.

Key facts for tené
PropertyValue
Headwordtené
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechVerb
IPA[t̪eˈne]
Letters4
Frequency rank#50,602
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tené” sits in Spanish frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). tené lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

tené is uncommon Spanish at frequency #50,602 among 34,400 “T” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed [t̪eˈne]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de tener.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for tené, suggesting the orthography follows predictable Spanish patterns. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct Spanish form is tené, spelled T-E-N-É.

Definition

  1. 1
    Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de tener.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 Spanish corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "tené"?
"tené" is spelled T-E-N-É. The IPA pronunciation is [t̪eˈne].
What does "tené" mean?
As a verb, "tené" means: Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de tener.
How do you pronounce "tené"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tené" is [t̪eˈne]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "tené" come from?
"tené" is a Spanish word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “tené”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is T-E-N-É - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [t̪eˈne] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish words

Other uncommon Spanish words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list