Family members in Spanish: Essential words and phrases

Learning to speak about family members in Spanish can assist you in describing your family more clearly, inquiring about the families of people you meet to build deeper connections and give them more information about your background.

No matter how large or complicated your family is, we will provide you with a complete list of family members in Spanish. So, whether you’re from a traditional or modern family, we promise to have you covered. But first, let’s talk about how to say “family” in Spanish.

English	Spanish
Family	La familia
Families	Las familias

Essential words related to family members in Spanish

The tables we will share in the following section will cover different family members in Spanish. We recommend you master them as they will improve your vocabulary to a great extent. Mastering basic Spanish words can help you understand basic conversations without any problem.

Immediate family members in Spanish

If you want to know how to say “mom” in Spanish, this section is for you. If you’re very close to your immediate family, you’ll want to know how to discuss your parents and siblings in Spanish as you travel through Spanish-speaking countries.

English	Spanish
Mother	Madre
Mom	Mamá
Father	Padre
Dad	Papá
Parents	Padres
Parents (less formal)	Papás
Siblings	Hermanos
Brother	Hermano
Sister	Hermana
Son	Hijo
Daughter	Hija
Child	Niño / Niña
Baby	Bebé
Wife	Esposa
Husband	Esposo
Partner	Pareja
Spouse	Cónyuge
Older brother	Hermano mayor
Younger brother	Hermano menor
Older sister	Hermana mayor
Younger sister	Hermana menor
Half-brother	Medio-hermano
Half-sister	Media-hermana

Extended family in Spanish

Hispanic cultures tend to be much closer to their extended family. A recent study of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans living in the United States found that Latinos are more likely to live with and participate in the lives of extended family members.

English	Spanish
Grandmother	Abuela
Grandfather	Abuelo
Grandparents	Abuelos
Female cousin	Prima
Male cousin	Primo
Aunt	Tía
Uncle	Tío
Aunts and uncles	Tíos
Niece	Sobrina
Nephew	Sobrino
Great-grandparent	Bisabuelos
Great-grandfather	Bisabuelo
Great-grandmother	Bisabuela
Great-aunt	Tía abuela
Great-uncle	Tío abuelo
Great-great-grandfather	Tatarabuelo
Great-great-grandmother	Tatarabuela
Great-great-great-grandfather	Tatara Tatarabuelo
Great-great-great-grandmother	Tatara Tatarabuela
First cousin	Primo hermano / Prima hermana
Second cousin	Primo segundo / Prima segunda
Third cousin	Primo tercero / Prima tercera

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Family members by law

English	Spanish
Stepmom	Madrastra
Stepdad	Padrastro
Step-sister	Hermanastra
Step-brother	Hermanastro
Parents-in-law	Suegros
Mother-in-law	Suegra
Father-in-law	Suegro
Sister-in-law	Cuñada
Brother-in-law	Cuñado
Daughter-in-law	Nuera
Son-in-law	Yerno

Despite knowing how to speak Spanish, there are some family-related terms natives use quite commonly. Mastering these terms and phrases is essential to hold family-related conversations like locals.

Other family-related terms in Spanish

When discussing families in Spanish, you should learn a variety of family-related vocabulary in addition to family members. These words will allow you to express yourself more naturally and accurately when discussing your or someone else’s family.

English	Spanish
Family tree	Árbol genealógico
Nuclear family	La familia nuclear
Adopted	Adoptado
Orphan	Huérfano
Surrogate mother	Madre subrogada
Twins	Gemelos / Mellizos
Twins (non-identical)	Cuates
Triplets	Trillizos
Engaged	Comprometidos
Fiancé	Prometido
Fiancée	Prometida
Wedding	Boda
Married	Casados
Separated	Separados
Divorced	Divorciados
Widow	Viudo / viuda
Foster mom	Mamá adoptiva
Foster dad	Papá adoptivo
Foster child	Hijo adoptivo / hija adoptiva
Only child	Hijo único
Godmother	Madrina
Godfather	Padrino
Godson	Ahijado
Goddaughter	Ahijada
Toddler	Niñito
Tween	Preadolecente
A teenager going through puberty	Puberto
Teenager	Adolecente
Adult	Adulto
Relative	Pariente
Ancestors	Ascendentes
Generation	Generación
Paternal	Paterno
Maternal	Materno
Youngest child	Hijo menor
Eldest child	Primogénito
Middle child	Hijo de en medio
Girlfriend	Novia
Boyfriend	Novio

Taking about family in day-to-say situations

Learning all of your family members’ names in Spanish can be time-consuming, especially if you’re just getting started. However, you should begin using a few words right away. Here are some sample questions and answers that you can use to learn more about someone’s family or to share information about your own family.

Q/A	English	Spanish
Q:	Do you have any siblings?	¿Tienes hermanos?
A:	I have three brothers.	Tengo tres hermanos.
Q:	How are your parents?	¿Cómo están tus papás?
A:	They’re doing great! What about yours?	¡Están muy bien! ¿Qué tal los tuyos?
Q:	How long have you been married?	¿Cuánto tiempo llevan casados?
A:	We have been married for three years now!	¡Ya llevamos tres años de casados!
Q:	Do you plan on having any kids?	¿Planean tener hijos?
A:	Yes, we want to have two kids.	Si, queremos tener dos hijos.
Q:	Do you have any pets?	¿Tienen alguna mascota?
A:	No, but we really want to adopt a kitty.	No, pero queremos adoptar a un gatito.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the importance of extended family in Spanish culture?

In Spanish culture, extended family is important and actively participates in events and celebrations.

What is the most important tradition in your family?

The most important tradition in Spanish families is gathering every Sunday to share a meal.

What is the difference between an uncle and a cousin?

An uncle is the brother of your father or mother, while a cousin is the child of your aunts or uncles.

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed learning about each family member in Spanish. We understand that our list is quite long, so don’t try to rush through our family members in Spanish list. Just keep practicing the Spanish terms for the family daily, and you’ll have mastery in no time.

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