Learn family and relationship vocabulary. Click any word to hear it pronounced.
la madre
mother
el padre
father
los padres
parents
la hermana
sister
el hermano
brother
los hermanos
siblings
la hija
daughter
el hijo
son
los hijos
children
la abuela
grandmother
el abuelo
grandfather
los abuelos
grandparents
la tía
aunt
el tío
uncle
la prima
cousin (f)
el primo
cousin (m)
la esposa
wife
el esposo
husband
la novia
girlfriend
el novio
boyfriend
la suegra
mother-in-law
el suegro
father-in-law
la nuera
daughter-in-law
el yerno
son-in-law
la sobrina
niece
el sobrino
nephew
la nieta
granddaughter
el nieto
grandson
Most family words come in pairs: -o for masculine and -a for feminine (hermano/hermana, abuelo/abuela). The plural los hermanos can mean brothers or siblings (mixed group). La madre and el padre are irregular. Use mi (my), tu (your), su (his/her) before family words: mi madre, tu hermano, su esposa.
1. What does 'madre' mean?
2. How do you say 'brother' in Spanish?
3. What does 'abuelo' mean?
4. How do you say 'daughter' in Spanish?
5. What does 'sobrino' mean?
6. How do you say 'wife' in Spanish?
7. What does 'primo' mean?
8. How do you say 'parents' in Spanish?
9. What does 'suegra' mean?
10. How do you say 'grandson' in Spanish?
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Family words follow -o/-a pattern: hermano/hermana, abuelo/abuela. Plural masculine includes mixed groups: los hermanos means siblings. Start with madre, padre, hijo/hija, hermano/hermana as core vocabulary.
These terms appear in everyday conversation constantly and form the foundation for all other family vocabulary in Spanish. Mastering them enables basic personal conversations immediately.
Spanish distinguishes what English combines: suegra (mother-in-law), suegro, nuera (daughter-in-law), yerno (son-in-law). Each has a unique word unlike the English in-law construction.
Cousins: primo/prima. Niece: sobrina, nephew: sobrino. Grandchildren: nieto/nieta. The masculine/feminine gender pattern is consistent throughout all family vocabulary.
Mi, tu, su, nuestro/nuestra before family words: mi madre, tu hermano, su esposa. Nuestro changes for gender: nuestro padre but nuestra madre. Su can mean his, her or your formal.
Casual usage: hermano/hermana among close friends means bro/sis. Mijo/mija (from mi hijo/hija) is used affectionately by older people toward younger ones throughout Latin America.
Family is central to Spanish-speaking cultures. Extended families gather regularly for meals. Sunday lunches are tradition across Latin America and Spain. Understanding family vocabulary is essential for social conversation.
When meeting families knowing terms helps follow introductions. Asking about family is considered polite and shows genuine interest: Tienes hermanos? Como se llama tu madre?
Conyuge (spouse), estado civil (marital status), soltero/a (single), casado/a (married), divorciado/a, viudo/a (widowed). These appear on immigration forms and medical records everywhere.
Spanish names use two surnames: apellido paterno + apellido materno. This system appears on all official documents and understanding it is important for any bureaucratic interaction.