Spanish Family-related Spanish Words

A collection of Spanish words that are associated with family members and relationships.

familiar lejano
distant family

The Spanish term 'familiar lejano' translates to 'distant family' in English. This phrase is usually used to refer to family members who are not part of the immediate family, but still have a blood or legal connection. For instance, it can include relatives like cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews among others. In some cases, the degree of closeness or distance could be subjective, depending on familial and cultural interpretations.

formar parte de la familia
form part of the family

The Spanish phrase 'formar parte de la familia' translates to 'form part of the family' in English. This phrase is used to symbolize a strong connection or bond to a group, signifying that one is an integral, valued member, as if they were family. Like family members who influence and shape each other's lives, when one forms part of a family or group, they contribute to and are deeply affected by that group. This phrase is commonly used in various contexts, such as in familial, social, and professional environments.

hacer de canguro
babysitting

The Spanish phrase 'hacer de canguro' translates to 'to babysit' in English. Despite its direct translation being 'to act as a kangaroo', it is typically used in Spain to refer to the action of taking care of someone else's children for a period of time. This may involve activities such as feeding, playing with them, and putting them to sleep.

hermano
brother

The Spanish word 'hermano' is used in exactly the same context as the English word 'brother'. It is used to refer to a male sibling. Just like in English, the word can also be used in a broader sense to refer to any male in a similar generational level within a group, especially in religious or fraternal contexts.

Example sentences with  hermano
hija
daughter

The Spanish word 'hija' translates to 'daughter' in English. It is used to refer to a person's female child. The masculine form is 'hijo', meaning son. 'Hija' can also be used in possessive contexts, like 'su hija' meaning 'his/her daughter'.

Example sentences with  hija
hijo
son

In Spanish, the word 'hijo' translates to 'son' in English. It refers to a person's male offspring. This term is used in a variety of contexts and is a central concept in family-related terminology. Embedded in many other expressions, 'hijo' is often used as a term of endearment or in grammatical structures to signify possession.

hijo único
only child

The Spanish phrase 'hijo único' directly translates to 'only child' in English. It is used for describing a person who has no siblings. In this phrase, 'hijo' means 'son' or 'child' and 'único' means 'only' or 'unique'. So, 'hijo único' can also refer to 'unique child', but it is commonly understood as 'only child'.

madrastra
stepmother

The word 'madrastra' is a noun in Spanish language, used to represent a female figure who is married to one's father following the death or divorce of the latter's previous partner. In English, this word is translated as 'stepmother'. This term does not necessarily mean that the 'madrastra' has legal obligations or relationship by blood with the child, but rather, she is a part of the child's life due to her relationship with the child's father.

madre
mother

The Spanish word for 'mother' is 'madre'. It is generally used to refer to one's female parent. Similar to its usage in English, 'madre' can also be used in a broader sense to refer to a woman who has given birth or who has responsibility for the care of children. It is commonly used in various phrases and idioms.

Example sentences with  madre
madre de alquiler
surrogate mother

The term 'madre de alquiler' is a Spanish term which, when translated to English, means 'surrogate mother'. In the context of family and relationships, a 'madre de alquiler' is a woman who agrees, usually by contract and for a fee, to bear a child for another person or persons, who will become the child's legal parents after the birth. This method is often used as an option for people who are unable to bear children themselves.

madre soltera
single mother

The Spanish phrase 'madre soltera' translates to 'single mother' in English. It's used to describe a woman who has a child or children and is not living with the child's or children's father. This could be due to various circumstances such as separation, divorce, death or by personal choice. The phrase recognizes the woman as the sole parent taking responsibility for raising her child or children.

maternidad
maternity

The Spanish word 'maternidad' translates to 'maternity' in English. It denotes the period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth. It's a term largely used in the contexts of healthcare, such as 'maternity ward' or 'maternity leave', where a woman takes off from work for the birth or adoption of a child. It can also reflect abstract concepts relating to motherhood.

matrimonio de conveniencia
marriage of convenience

The Spanish term 'matrimonio de conveniencia' translates to 'marriage of convenience' in English. A marriage of convenience is generally one that is not based on love, but rather on some other personal gain for at least one of the parties involved. This could be for business, social standing or even for legal status in a foreign country. Such marriages are often organized or facilitated by others, and can sometimes be compared to arranged marriages.

mellizos
twins

The Spanish word 'mellizos' translates to 'twins' in English. This refers to two children birthed by the same mother in the same pregnancy who share a birthday. The term 'mellizos' is commonly used in the Spanish language when referring to a set of twins, similar to the English usage of the term. Although 'mellizos' often refers to fraternal (non-identical) twins, it can also be used broadly to refer to any set of twins.

nacimiento
birth

The Spanish word for 'birth' is 'nacimiento.' It is primarily used in phrases to describe someone's birth, such as 'fecha de nacimiento' (date of birth). It can also be used in a broader sense to describe the birth or beginning of something, such as 'nacimiento de una idea' (the birth of an idea).

Example sentences with  nacimiento
nieto
grandson

The word 'nieto' is a noun in Spanish, often used in familial contexts. It translates to 'grandson' in English. 'Nieto' refers to a child's male offspring, especially the son of one’s son or daughter. It is widely applicable in different scenarios in Spanish speaking cultures and families.

niña
girl

Niña is the Spanish word for a female child or girl.

Example sentences with  niña
niño
boy

Niño is the Spanish term for a male child or boy.

Example sentences with  niño
niño adoptado
adopted child

The Spanish phrase 'niño adoptado' translates to 'adopted child' in English. It consists of two words 'niño', which means child, and 'adoptado', which means adopted. Therefore, when combined, they mean a child who has been legally taken by someone other than their biological parents to be permanently raised as his or her own child. This term reflects a legal process that gives new parent(s) the same rights and obligations as a child's biological parents.

niño probeta
test tube child

The Spanish term 'niño probeta' translates to 'test tube child' in English. This phrase is often used to refer to children conceived through in vitro fertilization, a process in which an egg is combined with a sperm outside the body, in a lab. Once the egg is fertilized, it is inserted into a woman's uterus. This term may be used colloquially and not necessarily in a scientific context.

novio
boyfriend

The Spanish word 'novio' translates to 'boyfriend' in English. It is used in a romantic context to refer to a person's male partner. In a broader and more traditional context, 'novio' can also refer to 'fiancé', a man that a person is engaged to be married to.

obtener el divorcio
get divorce

The Spanish phrase 'obtener el divorcio' translates to 'get divorce' in English. This is usually used in the context of a marriage ending legally, where one would 'get a divorce' from their spouse. This term is used in legal and personal situations when discussing the end of a marital relationship.

padrastro
stepfather

The Spanish word 'padrastro' translates to 'stepfather' in English. It is used to refer to a man who is married to one's mother but is not one's biological father. In a broader sense, the term can also describe a man who plays a paternal role in a person's life, regardless of marital status or biological relation.

padre
father

The Spanish word for 'father' is 'padre'. It is often used to address one's own father in a formal manner. Moreover, it can also be utilized in titles, such as 'Padre Pio'. An everyday example of its utilization could be 'Mi padre es ingeniero', which means 'My father is an engineer'.

Example sentences with  padre
padres
parents

The Spanish word 'padres' translates to 'parents' in English. This term refers to a child's mother and father. In broader context, it can also refer to any entities or people that give birth or are considered sources or creators. The use of this word is similar in both Spanish and English, often utilized in familial or relational contexts.

Example sentences with  padres
parecerse a su hermano
to look like his brother

The Spanish phase 'parecerse a su hermano' translates to 'to look like his brother' in English. It refers to the similarity in physical appearance between two individuals, specifically, between siblings. It can be used in contexts where there is a need to describe or express resemblances in families. This phrase is usually reflective of hereditary features passed down which leads to members of the same family looking alike.

parecerse a su padre
to look like his father

The Spanish phrase 'parecerse a su padre' translates to 'to look like his father' in English. It is typically used when someone shares physical characteristics or behaviors with their father, indicating a strong resemblance between them. For example, someone might say 'Juan se parece a su padre en su manera de hablar,' which means 'Juan looks like his father in his way of talking.' This phrase indicates kinship, similarity, and often invokes a sense of continuity between generations.

pareja
couple

The Spanish word 'pareja' translates to 'couple' in English. This could refer to two people in a romantic relationship, two people paired together, or simply two items that are grouped together. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Example sentences with  pareja
pareja de hecho
de facto couple

The Spanish term 'pareja de hecho' translates to 'de facto couple' in English. This usually refers to a couple that lives together and shares a domestic life, but is not married or in a registered civil partnership. Despite not having a formal recognition, de facto couples often have many of the same responsibilities and rights as married couples. In many jurisdictions, certain legal consequences are enjoyed by people living as a de facto couple, which can include property settlement and maintenance rights.

paternidad
paternity

The Spanish word 'paternidad' translates to 'paternity' in English. It is a noun that refers to the status or relationship of a male parent to his offspring. The word paternity is often used in legal and social contexts to describe the father-child connection. It's often associated with parental rights, responsibilities and any legal issues that may arise. In many cultures and societies, the concept of paternity carries with it a certain status and responsibilities, often tied to the care and support of the child.

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