Spanish Phrase
Tenemos eso en común.
Meaning
The sentence states that the speakers share a particular characteristic, interest, or experience. It highlights a point of similarity between two or more people.
When to use
Use it when you discover a shared hobby, opinion, background, or any other trait with someone else. It works well in casual conversation, ice‑breaker moments, or when you want to emphasize a bond.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tenemosesoencomún
tener (present)
‘Tenemos’ is the first‑person plural present of ‘tener’, used to indicate possession or a shared attribute.
eso (demonstrative pronoun)
‘Eso’ points to a specific thing, idea or quality that has already been mentioned or is understood from context.
en común (fixed expression)
The preposition ‘en’ + adjective ‘común’ forms the idiomatic phrase ‘en común’, meaning ‘in common’ or ‘shared’.
adjective as noun
In ‘en común’, ‘común’ functions like a noun; the whole phrase behaves as a complement to ‘tener’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Te gusta la fotografía de calle?
Do you like street photography?
Sí, mucho. Tenemos eso en común.
Yes, a lot. We have that in common.
✕Common Mistakes
tenemos en común eso.
The natural order is ‘Tenemos eso en común’; placing ‘en común’ before ‘eso’ sounds awkward.
Tenemos eso en comun.
‘Común’ always carries an accent on the ‘u’; omitting it changes the pronunciation and is considered a spelling error.
Tenemos eso en comunes.
‘Común’ stays singular; the phrase does not agree in number with ‘tenemos’.
↔Alternatives
Compartimos eso.
We share that.
Tenemos algo en común.
We have something in common.
Eso nos une.
That unites us.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking cultures, pointing out common ground is a quick way to build rapport and show friendliness. The phrase is informal but perfectly acceptable in most social settings; with strangers you might prefer the slightly more neutral ‘Tenemos algo en común.’