[3] The name of the river originated in the Kazakh language word for "tin".

[4] The Teneke originates in a spring located in Koyandy mountain of the Kazakh Uplands.

In its first stretch it flows roughly northwards across the steppe, to the east of the Sileti and parallel to it.

The Teneke has its mouth in the southwestern corner of the Sholaksor endorheic lake.

The Teneke has 31 small tributaries with a total length of 95 km (59 mi).