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Portuguese Phrase

Tenho que estar lá?

/ˈtẽɲu ki esˈtaɾ ˈla/
Meaning"Do I have to be there?"
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Meaning

‘Tenho que estar lá?’ asks whether the speaker is required to be at a certain place. It conveys a sense of doubt or seeking confirmation about an obligation.

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When to use

Use this question when you’re unsure if you must attend a meeting, event, or any location that someone else expects you to be at. It works in both formal and informal contexts, though in very formal settings you might opt for a more elaborate construction.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Tenhoqueestarlá?

1

Tenho que + infinitive

‘Tenho que’ expresses obligation and is followed by an infinitive verb, similar to ‘have to’ in English.

2

Estar (to be – location)

‘Estar’ is used for temporary states or locations; here it asks about being at a place.

3

Lá (there)

‘Lá’ indicates a place that is away from both speaker and listener.

4

Question intonation

In spoken Portuguese the rising intonation at the end signals a yes‑no question; the written form adds a question mark.

🗨In Conversation

A

A reunião começa às 9h. Você vai?

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Are you coming?

Tenho que estar lá?

Do I have to be there?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Tem que estar lá?

    ‘Tem’ is third‑person singular; the subject is ‘eu’, so the correct form is ‘Tenho’. Using ‘tem’ changes the meaning to ‘Does he/she have to be there?’

  • Tenho que estar lá

    Missing the question mark (or rising intonation) turns the sentence into a statement: ‘I have to be there.’

  • Tenho de estar lá?

    ‘Tenho de’ is technically correct but sounds overly formal for most everyday situations; native speakers prefer ‘Tenho que’.

↔Alternatives

  • Preciso estar lá?

    Do I need to be there?

  • É necessário que eu esteja lá?

    Is it necessary that I be there?

  • Devo estar lá?

    Should I be there?

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, ‘tem que’ is the colloquial contraction of ‘tem que’ (you have to) and is often used in informal speech. However, when you are speaking about yourself, keep the verb conjugated to match the subject – ‘Tenho que…’. Using ‘tenho de’ is grammatically correct but sounds more formal and is less common in everyday conversation.