Family Words in Spanish
Spanish family words come in male and female pairs. One rule about the plural does a lot of work, and it is explained at the end.
Parents and children
-
la madre
lah MAH-dreh
-
mother
mamá in everyday speech
-
el padre
el PAH-dreh
-
father
papá in everyday speech
-
los padres
lohs PAH-drehs
-
parents
-
la hija
lah EE-hah
-
daughter
-
el hijo
el EE-hoh
-
son
-
los hijos
lohs EE-hohs
-
children
Your own children, as opposed to niños in general
Brothers, sisters and grandparents
-
la hermana
lah ehr-MAH-nah
-
sister
-
el hermano
el ehr-MAH-noh
-
brother
-
los hermanos
lohs ehr-MAH-nohs
-
siblings
-
la abuela
lah ah-BWEH-lah
-
grandmother
-
el abuelo
el ah-BWEH-loh
-
grandfather
-
el nieto
el NYEH-toh
-
grandson
la nieta for a granddaughter
The wider family
-
la tía
lah TEE-ah
-
aunt
-
el tío
el TEE-oh
-
uncle
-
la prima
lah PREE-mah
-
cousin (female)
-
el primo
el PREE-moh
-
cousin (male)
-
la esposa
lah es-POH-sah
-
wife
mujer is just as common
-
el esposo
el es-POH-soh
-
husband
marido is just as common
-
la familia
lah fah-MEE-lyah
-
family
Why los padres means parents
A masculine plural covers a mixed group. Los padres is a mother and a father, not two fathers, and los hermanos is brothers and sisters together.
The feminine plural is specific: las hermanas can only be sisters.
To say my, use mi for one person and mis for more than one: mi hermana, mis hermanos. It does not change for male or female.
- Tengo dos hermanos.I have two siblings.
- Mis abuelos viven en Sevilla.My grandparents live in Seville.
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