Spanish Phrase
Tengo mates y ciencias.
Meaning
Literally, 'I have math and sciences.' In everyday speech it means the speaker is enrolled in or currently studying the subjects of mathematics and the various sciences.
When to use
Use this phrase when talking about your school or university timetable, explaining which subjects you are taking, or answering a question like '¿Qué materias tienes?' (What subjects do you have?).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tengomatesyciencias.
Tengo (verb tener)
First‑person singular present of 'tener', used to express possession, obligations, or scheduled activities.
mates (colloquial)
Short, informal abbreviation for 'matemáticas' (mathematics), common in Spain and some Latin‑American student slang.
y (conjunction)
Coordinating conjunction meaning 'and', linking two nouns of the same grammatical type.
ciencias (noun)
Plural noun meaning 'sciences' (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics). Used here as a school subject.
🗨In Conversation
Tengo mates y ciencias.
I have math and science.
¡Qué bien! ¿Te gustan más los mates o las ciencias?
Nice! Do you like math more or the sciences?
✕Common Mistakes
Tengo mate y ciencias.
Singular 'mate' is not used for the subject; you need the plural or the full word 'matemática(s)'.
Tengo mates y la ciencia.
When referring to the group of science subjects you use the plural 'ciencias', not the singular 'ciencia' with the article.
Tengo mates y ciencias
If you want to talk about what you study rather than what you 'have', 'estudio' is more natural.
↔Alternatives
Tengo matemáticas y ciencias.
I have mathematics and science.
Estudio mates y ciencias.
I study math and science.
Tengo clase de mates y de ciencias.
I have a class of math and a class of science.
Cultural Tip
The word 'mates' is informal student slang for 'matemáticas' and is mostly heard in Spain and among younger speakers in Latin America. In formal contexts (e.g., a résumé or a formal email) you should use the full word 'matemáticas'. Also, note that 'ciencias' can refer to a single discipline (e.g., 'ciencia') or a group of scientific subjects; the plural is common when you mean more than one science class.