poseer
verbCEFR B2
What does “poseer” mean in English?
to possess, to own
to possess, to own (poseer + noun — formal ownership of assets, qualities, or intellectual property)
Example sentences
La empresa posee una patente exclusiva que le otorga ventaja competitiva en el mercado europeo.
The company possesses an exclusive patent that gives it a competitive advantage in the European market.
Para este puesto se requiere poseer experiencia previa en gestión de equipos internacionales.
For this post it is required to possess prior experience managing international teams.
How to use it
Poseer means 'to possess' or 'to own', especially in formal, legal, and intellectual contexts. More formal than tener. Collocations: poseer una patente, poseer conocimientos, poseer bienes. Does not typically describe temporary states — use tener for those. The yo form is poseo (no irregularity).
Common mistake
Poseer vs. tener: both mean 'have/own', but poseer is reserved for formal, legal, or permanent possession. Don't use poseer for temporary states ('I have a headache' = tengo dolor de cabeza, not *poseo).