Family-related Spanish Words
A collection of Spanish words that are associated with family members and relationships.
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.
pedir el divorcio
ask for divorce
The Spanish phrase 'pedir el divorcio' translates to 'ask for divorce' in English. This verb phrase is often used in legal and personal contexts. In a sentence, it would usually be used when one person in a marriage wants to legally end their relationship with their partner and they make this desire known by asking for a divorce.
perder a los padres
losing parents
The Spanish phrase 'perder a los padres' translates to 'losing parents' in English. This is a tangible or literal translation which means a person's loss of their mother and/or father. This phrase is mostly used when talking about tragic circumstances such as death. The verb 'perder' generally means 'to lose', and 'a los padres' means 'the parents'. Therefore, 'perder a los padres' carries a heavy emotional weight, signifying a lifelong loss.
perder a un hermano
lose a brother
The phrase 'perder a un hermano' in Spanish translates to 'lose a brother' in English. This phrase is often used in a context where a person has lost their sibling due to unfortunate circumstances like death. It can also metaphorically mean when the bond between siblings is damaged or broken due to some reason, leading to them feeling the sense of losing their brother.
perder a un hijo
lose a child
The Spanish phrase 'perder a un hijo' translates to 'lose a child' in English. This can refer to multiple situations, including the tragic occurrence of a child's death, which is an intense form of grief experienced by parents. It can also mean misplacing or not being able to find a child in a geographical location, like at a public event or park. The phrase's exact interpretation depends upon its context within a conversation or text.
primo
cousin
The Spanish word 'primo' translates to 'cousin' in English. It is used to refer to the child of one's uncle or aunt. In Spanish speaking cultures, similar to English, this term can be used for both male and female cousins unless specified otherwise. Just like in English, Spanish also has specific terms for 'first cousin', 'second cousin', etc., which just adds more precision when describing familial relationships. 'Primo' can also sometimes be used informally among friends to mean 'buddy' or 'mate'.
Example sentences with primo →primo hermano
cousin
The Spanish term 'primo hermano' directly translates to 'first cousin' in English. It refers to the children of a person's aunt or uncle. These individuals share at least one set of grandparents and are one generation beneath that of their common ancestors. In many cultures, cousins often form close familial bonds, similar to siblings.
recién nacido
newborn
The Spanish phrase 'recién nacido' directly translates to 'newly born' in English but it is more commonly referred to as 'newborn'. This term is often used to describe a baby shortly after its birth, generally within the first four weeks of life. In Spanish, the term can be used in the same context as it is in English, referring to a very young child, and it longs within the vocabulary of family and health.
separado
separated
The Spanish word 'separado' translates to 'separated' in English. It can be used in various contexts similar to English. For instance, when addressing physical objects that are not together, emotional distance in relationships, or to highlight distinctions between different entities. It could also suggest a state of being isolated or no longer connected with something.
sobrino
nephew
The Spanish word 'sobrino' translates to 'nephew' in English. In Spanish, familial terms are specifically gendered, hence 'sobrino' specifically refers to a sibling's male child. The female counterpart of 'sobrino' is 'sobrina', which translates to 'niece' in English. As is common in Spanish, the final 'o' or 'a' denotes the gender of the person in question, with 'o' typically designating males and 'a' designating females.
soltero
single
The Spanish translation for 'single' is 'soltero'. It is used in the context of describing one's marital status, indicating that the individual is not married. The use of 'soltero' is common in both spoken and written Spanish. For instance, one might say 'Soy soltero', which translates to 'I am single'. It is also used in the context of describing single items or units.
Example sentences with soltero →suegro
father-in-law
The Spanish word 'suegro' translates to 'father-in-law' in English. This term is used to refer to the father of one's spouse. Similar to English, it denotes family relations and is widely used within familial contexts and discussions. This term reflects the importance of family ties in Spanish-speaking cultures.
tatarabuelo
great-grandfather
The Spanish word 'tatarabuelo' translates to 'great-grandfather' in English. This term signifies a familial relationship, specifically your grandmother or grandfather's own grandfather. It's a way to identify an ancestor who is two generations above your grandparents. This word expresses respect and acknowledgement of lineage and heritage within families in Spanish-speaking cultures.
tener un hijo
having a child
The Spanish phrase 'tener un hijo' translates to 'having a child' in English. This phrase is typically used in the context of parenthood and family discussions. The verb 'tener' means 'to have', and 'un hijo' means 'a child', so combined, it refers to the existence of a child in one's life. This can be in a literal sense, as in physically bearing a child, or a more metaphorical sense, such as taking on parental responsibilities for a child.
tener una cría
have a baby
The Spanish phrase 'tener una cría' directly translates to 'have a baby' in English. It's generally used in the context of childbirth or the process of rearing a young child. It's important to note that this phrase is often used in a variety of contexts, depending on the conversation. In some situations, it can also refer to animals having offspring.
tío
uncle
The Spanish word 'tío' directly translates to 'uncle' in English. It's a common term used to refer to a parent's brother. Similar to English, 'tío' can also be used colloquially in some regions of the Spanish-speaking world to refer to a close male friend. This is often used informally and among peers.
Tio/Tia
Uncle/Aunt
In Spain, 'tio' and 'tia' are commonly used informally to refer to a man or woman, similar to 'dude' in English.
Example sentences with Tio/Tia →trillizos
triplets
The Spanish word 'trillizos' translates to 'triplets' in English. It's a noun typically used to describe three siblings who are born at the same time from the same pregnancy. 'Trillizos' can also refer to any group of three items that are identical or nearly so.
viudo
widower
The word 'viudo' in Spanish translates to 'widower' in English. It is a noun that refers to a man who has lost his spouse (wife) through death and has not remarried.
vivir juntos
living together
The Spanish phrase 'vivir juntos' translates to 'living together' in English. This can imply a variety of relationships, such as roommates, romantic partners, or family members, who reside in the same household. It is used to denote a shared living situation and corresponding aspects of life that are experienced together.