Immediate Family
madre
MAH-dreh
mother
padre
PAH-dreh
father
hermano
ehr-MAH-noh
brother
hermana
ehr-MAH-nah
sister
hijo
EE-hoh
son
hija
EE-hah
daughter
Extended Family
abuelo
ah-BWEH-loh
grandfather
abuela
ah-BWEH-lah
grandmother
tío
TEE-oh
uncle
tía
TEE-ah
aunt
primo
PREE-moh
male cousin
prima
PREE-mah
female cousin
Family Roles and Titles
esposo
ehs-POH-soh
husband
esposa
ehs-POH-sah
wife
padres
PAH-dres
parents
hijos
EE-hos
children (sons or mixed)
hijas
EE-has
daughters
Describing Family Relationships
These words help describe relationships between family members:
miembro de la familia
mee-EM-broh deh lah fah-MEE-lee-ah
family member
pariente
pah-ree-EN-teh
relative
hermano mayor
ehr-MAH-noh mah-YOR
older brother
hermana menor
ehr-MAH-nah meh-NOR
younger sister
Possessive Adjectives with Family
Possessive adjectives are used to indicate ownership or relation:
- mi (my) - mi madre (my mother)
- tu (your, informal) - tu padre (your father)
- su (his/her/your formal) - su hermano (his brother)
- nuestro/a (our) - nuestra familia (our family)
- vuestro/a (your, plural informal) - vuestros hijos (your children)
- su (their/your plural formal) - sus primos (their cousins)
Esta es mi hermana.
EH-stah es mee ehr-MAH-nah.
This is my sister.
Example Sentences
Mi abuelo vive con nosotros.
Mee ah-BWEH-loh VEE-veh kon noh-SOH-tros.
My grandfather lives with us.
Tengo dos hermanas y un hermano.
TEN-goh dos ehr-MAH-nas ee oon ehr-MAH-noh.
I have two sisters and one brother.
Su tía es muy amable.
Soo TEE-ah es mooy ah-MAH-bleh.
His/Her aunt is very kind.
Nuestros hijos están en la escuela.
Nwehs-TROHS EE-hos ehs-TAHN ehn lah ehs-KWEH-lah.
Our children are at school.
Pronunciation Tips
Remember these key points when pronouncing family terms in Spanish:
- The letter h is silent, so hermano sounds like ehr-MAH-no.
- The letter j is pronounced like a soft English h, as in hijo (EE-ho).
- Accent marks (´) indicate the stressed syllable, e.g., tío (TEE-oh).
- Vowels are pure and consistent: a as in "father", e as in "bet", i as in "machine", o as in "note", u as in "rule".