Understanding “Há” vs. “Tem” – And Why Only One is Right in Portugal

Mar 28, 2025

If you want to say “there is” or “there are” in Portuguese, you might be tempted to use tem—especially if you’ve picked it up from movies or apps. But in Portugal, that’s not the right choice. The word you want is “há.” Not only is it the proper way to say “there is/are,” but it also helps you talk about the past, like saying something existed. Let’s break it all down.

Grammar Spotlight: Use “Há” — Not “Tem”

In Portuguese, the word há (from the verb haver) is used to say:

There is / there are (something exists in the present)
There was / there were / ago (something existed in the past)

Even though “tem” technically means “has,” it’s not used to mean “there is/are” in Portugal

✅ When to Use “Há”

Talking about things that exist

“Há uma padaria nesta rua.”
(There is a bakery on this street.)
“Há muitas pessoas no café.”
(There are many people in the café.)

Talking about something that existed or happened in the past

“Há dois anos, visitei Lisboa.”
(Two years ago, I visited Lisbon.)
“Há muito tempo que não te vejo.”
(I haven’t seen you in a long time.)

In these cases, há can be roughly translated as “ago” or even “existed.”

Example: “Há uma solução.”
Translation: “A solution exists.”

🚫 Why Not “Tem”?

In Portugal, “tem” is only used to mean “has” (as in possession):

“Ela tem um carro.” → (She has a car.) ✅
“Tem uma loja aqui.” → ❌ Not natural in European Portuguese
“Há uma loja aqui.” → ✅ (There is a shop here.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Saying “Tem muita gente na festa.”
✔ Instead, say: “Há muita gente na festa.” (There are many people at the party.)

🚫 Saying “Tem três dias que chove.”
✔ Instead, say: “Há três dias que chove.” (It’s been raining for three days.)

Word of the Week: Há

Pronunciation: [ah]
Meaning: There is / There are / Ago / Existed
Example: “Há um problema com a internet.”
(There is a problem with the internet.)

Practice Challenge: Fill in the Blanks

Use há or tem appropriately:

______ muitas lojas nesta zona.
Ela ______ dois filhos.
______ uma farmácia aberta?
______ muito barulho no café.
______ cinco anos que moro em Portugal.

Answers:

Pro Tip:

When in doubt, ask yourself:
🔹 Are you talking about existence or time passed? → Use há
🔹 Are you talking about possession? → Use tem

Mastering há gives you the ability to express both the present and the past with just one word. Simple, powerful, and 100% Portuguese.

So next time you want to say “there is” or “there was”—skip “tem.” Just say há.