Talking about our families is a very common part of Hispanic culture and it can come up in every-day conversations. We’re normally quite close with our immediate or even with our extended family, so it’s only natural to include them in our small talk and regular exchanges with other people. In this post we’ve covered all the vocabulary and expressions you might need to talk or ask about this. It’s family time!
The immediate family or familia nuclear is the first step when it comes to speak about someone’s family and personal relationships. Here you have all the basis covered. Enjoy!
Here you can see all the vocabulary about the nuclear family we’ve covered so far and the English translation.
| Español 🇪🇸 | English 🇺🇸 |
|---|---|
|
padre |
father |
|
madre |
mother |
|
padres |
parents (father and mother or two fathers) |
|
hijo |
son |
|
hija |
daughter |
|
marido / esposo |
husband |
|
mujer / esposa |
wife |
|
hermano |
brother |
|
hermana |
sister |
|
hermanos |
siblings |
|
mascota |
pet |
When someone marries the new relations with their partner and their family are called familia política in Spanish (in-laws). Down below you’ll find all the vocabulary you need to talk about someone’s in-laws and their marital status or estado civil. Have a look!
Here you can have all the vocabulary about the familia política we’ve covered so far and the English translation.
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | English 🇺🇸 |
|---|---|
|
suegro |
father-in-law |
|
suegra |
mother-in-law |
|
yerno |
son-in-law |
|
nuera |
daughter-in-law |
|
cuñado |
brother-in-law |
|
cuñada |
sister-in-law |
How do we talk about a person’s relationship status in Spanish? It’s very easy! In Spanish we express the different options with the verbs SER, ESTAR and TENER. Look at the following chart:
It’s time to practise!
For many Hispanic people, the extended family is just as important as the immediate family. Don’t worry! We have all you need to learn this vocabulary as simple as possible.
| Español 🇪🇸 | English 🇺🇸 |
|---|---|
|
abuelo |
grandfather |
|
abuela |
grandmother |
|
abuelos |
grandparents |
|
nieto |
grandson |
|
nieta |
granddaughter |
|
nietos |
grandchildren |
|
tío |
uncle |
|
tía |
aunt |
|
tíos |
uncles / aunt and uncle |
|
primo |
cousin (male) |
|
prima |
cousin (female) |
|
sobrino |
nephew |
|
sobrina |
niece |
What about your grandparents parents or your grandchildren’s children? In Spanish is really easy to name these family members. Have a look:
La madre de mi abuela es mi bisabuela.
La hija de mi nieta es mi bisnieta.
La madre de mi bisabuela es mi tatarabuela.
La hija de mi bisnieta es mi tataranieta.
Families are as varied and complex in Spanish-speaking countries as in any other place. Here you have some vocabulary that might come in handy.
| Español 🇪🇸 | English 🇺🇸 |
|---|---|
|
padrastro |
stepfather |
|
madrastra |
stepmother |
|
hijastro |
stepson |
|
hijastra |
stepdaughter |
|
hermanastro |
stepbrother |
|
hermanastra |
stepsister |
Check out our podcast episode about Family in Spanish. Surely, it will be a good practice for your listening skills! If you wish to read the transcript while listening and also completing the exercises, then download them by clicking on the link below.
To recap what you’ve learnt in this post, listed to our podcast episode “Talking about Your Family in Spanish”.
It’s time to practise all we’ve learned in this post. Let’s go!
If you want to immerse yourself in Hispanic culture and learn more about family relationships and how important they are to Hispanic people, here you have some movies TV shows that are perfect for that.
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