Spanish Phrase
¿Tienes algo prohibido?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the listener possesses anything that is illegal or forbidden. It can be used by police, customs officers, or anyone who suspects the other person might be carrying contraband.
When to use
Use this phrase in formal or semi‑formal situations where you need to verify the presence of illegal items – e.g., at border control, during a police stop, or in a dramatic scene in a story. In casual conversation it may sound confrontational, so softer alternatives are often preferred.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Tienesalgoprohibido?
Tienes (present of tener)
Second‑person singular present of the verb *tener* (to have). Used for direct questions about possession.
algo (indefinite pronoun)
Means “something” or “anything”. It works with both affirmative and interrogative sentences.
prohibido (past participle as adjective)
The past participle of *prohibir* used as an adjective meaning “forbidden, illegal”. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
Question marks
Spanish uses an opening (¿) and a closing (?) question mark. Both are required.
🗨In Conversation
¿Tienes algo prohibido?
Do you have anything illegal?
No, nada. Solo mi pasaporte y mi móvil.
No, nothing. Just my passport and my phone.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Hay algo prohibido?
Learners sometimes use *hay* (there is/are) instead of *tienes* when asking about possession. *Hay* describes existence, not personal ownership.
¿Tienes algo prohibidos?
Using the masculine singular *prohibido* with a plural noun is incorrect; the adjective must agree in number.
¿Tienes algunos prohibidos?
Replacing *algo* with *algunos* changes the meaning to “some things” and sounds unnatural in this question.
↔Alternatives
¿Portas algo ilegal?
Are you carrying anything illegal?
¿Llevas algo prohibido?
Are you bringing anything prohibited?
¿Tienes algo que no deberías tener?
Do you have something you shouldn't have?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries a direct question like “¿Tienes algo prohibido?” is reserved for authority figures. In everyday conversation it can sound aggressive. If you need to ask politely, use the conditional or a more formal structure: “¿Podría decirme si lleva algo prohibido?” or “¿Me permite saber si lleva algún objeto prohibido?”. Also, remember that “prohibido” can refer to legal bans (drugs, weapons) as well as rules (e.g., “prohibido fumar”).