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Spanish Phrase

¿Tengo derecho a arreglarlo?

/ˈteŋ.go deˈre.tʃo a a.reˈɣɾaɾ.lo/
Meaning"Do I have the right to fix it?"
💡

Meaning

The speaker is asking whether they are entitled, by law or by agreement, to repair something. It can refer to a broken appliance, a car, a piece of equipment, or even a situation that needs fixing.

🎯

When to use

Use this question when you need to confirm a legal or contractual right to perform a repair, especially in formal or semi‑formal contexts such as dealing with landlords, service contracts, or warranty claims.

✦Grammar Breakdown

¿Tengoderechoaarreglarlo?

1

Tengo (present of tener)

The verb "tener" in the first‑person singular present (tengo) is used to express possession, obligations, or rights.

2

Derecho (noun)

"Derecho" means ‘right’ (as in a legal or moral entitlement) and is commonly paired with "tener".

3

Preposition a + infinitive

The preposition "a" introduces the infinitive that follows, indicating the action to which the right applies.

4

Arreglarlo (infinitive + clitic)

"Arreglar" is the infinitive ‘to fix’; the attached clitic "lo" refers to the object being fixed (it).

🗨In Conversation

A

¿Tengo derecho a arreglarlo?

Do I have the right to fix it?

Sí, el contrato dice que puedes repararlo sin costo adicional.

Yes, the contract says you can repair it at no extra cost.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Tengo derecho de arreglarlo.

    The correct preposition after "derecho" is "a", not "de".

  • Tengo permiso a arreglarlo.

    When using "permiso", the preposition should be "para".

  • ¿Tengo derecho a arreglarla?

    Use "lo" for masculine objects and "la" for feminine ones; the clitic must match the noun’s gender.

↔Alternatives

  • ¿Puedo arreglarlo?

    Can I fix it?

  • ¿Tengo permiso para arreglarlo?

    Do I have permission to fix it?

  • ¿Me está permitido arreglarlo?

    Am I allowed to fix it?

es

Cultural Tip

In many Spanish‑speaking countries, "tener derecho a" is the standard way to talk about legal or contractual rights and sounds more formal than "poder". If you want a casual tone, use "¿Puedo…?". Also, remember that the clitic "lo" must agree with the gender of the object (e.g., "arreglarla" for a feminine noun).