No tengo con qué

(everyday chunks)
B2 (¡Nivelazo!)Used EVERYWHERE 🇲🇽Standard Spanish 😌

🧠 What it means

Wanna sound like a mexicano de verdad? Then whip this lil’ beauty out the next time you need to say that you don’t have the means, tools, or resources to do something. The full structure is: no tengo con qué + infinitive. And it means something like: 👉 I don't have what I need to + verb

🌪️ When to whip it out

Anytime you want to do something but don’t have the money, equipment, or resources to actually pull it off:

No tengo con qué hacerlo.
I haven't got the tools to do it.
No tengo con qué defenderme.
I’ve got no way to defend myself.

— ¿Vas a pagar la luz?
— Uf, no tengo con qué, wey.
— Are you gonna pay the electric bill?
— Ugh, I can’t… I haven’t got any money, dude.

⚠️ Tone

✅ Everyday Mexican Spanish.

✅ Not slangy, not formal.

✅ Great for playing the “I'm broke/helpless” card.

🔁 Similar chunks

No tengo cómoNo traigo ni un pesoNo hay formaNo tengo un quinto

🦜 El Rincón del Cotorreo

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