Short answer: The most common Spanish family words are padre (father), madre (mother),
padres (parents), hijo (son), hija (daughter), hermano (brother) and hermana (sister). Most match
up directly with their English equivalents. The pattern to learn early is that -o endings are
masculine and -a endings feminine, and that the masculine plural covers a mixed group:
hermanos means brothers, or brothers and sisters together. Most words also have a more familiar,
everyday form, such as papá, mamá and abuelito.
This guide covers 26 family relationships in Spanish, from immediate family through to in-laws.
These words for Spanish family members are usually directly translatable into English, with
many having alternatives that are similarly mirrored in English. For each one the table gives the
Spanish word, whether it sits on the formal or informal side, and the affectionate or colloquial
alternative Spanish speakers use. The sections after the table cover which words to learn first
and how closely they map onto English.
Below is a table with several translations of different family members, whether they are used in
formal or informal contexts, and if they have alternative expressions.
| English | Spanish | Formal/Informal | Alternatives |
| Father | Padre | Formal | Papá (for dad) |
| Mother | Madre | Formal | Mamá (for mum) |
| Parents | Padres | Formal/informal | Papás (colloquial) |
| Son | Hijo | Formal/informal | Mijo (usually used in Latin America as an affectionate phrase used when talking to a younger person) |
| Daughter | Hija | Formal/informal | Mija can be used as a term of endearment, short for mi hija |
| Brother | Hermano | Formal/informal | The phrase mano can be used to greet friends, much like ‘bro’ in English |
| Sister | Hermana | Formal/informal | The phrase mana can be used similarly to mano to greet close friends |
| Siblings | Hermanos | Formal/informal | Hermanos is used for a group of brothers or both brothers and sisters. For just sisters, you would use hermanas |
| Husband | Esposo | Formal | Marido is used for a more casual term, whereas esposo is considered more formal |
| Wife | Esposa | Formal | Mujer is used for a more casual term, whereas esposa is considered more formal |
| Grandfather | Abuelo | Formal | For a more affectionate term, abuelito is usually used |
| Grandmother | Abuela | Formal/informal | Although abuela can be used for both formal and informal settings, for a more affectionate term, you use abuelita |
| Grandparents | Abuelos | Formal/informal | Although there isn’t an alternative for the collective grandparents, adding the suffixes ita or ito for the individual works well for a more affectionate approach |
| Grandson | Nieto | Formal/informal | Nietito can be used for a more affectionate term |
| Granddaughter | Nieta | Formal/informal | Nietita can be used for a more affectionate term |
| Uncle | Tío | Informal | Tiozote can be used, which means “big uncle”, or Tíito, meaning “little uncle”, depending on their personality |
| Aunt | Tía | Informal | Tiita can be used to express a deep level of connection |
| Cousin | Primo (male) Prima (female) |
Formal/informal | These terms are often used outside of blood relations and are often used to greet friends |
| Nephew | Sobrino | Formal/informal | Sobrinito translates to ‘little nephew’ and is a go-to term to show affection |
| Niece | Sobrina | Formal/informal | Sobrinita translates to ‘little niece’ and is a go-to term to show affection. |
| Father-in-law | Suegro | Depends on the context it is used in |
Suegrito can be used to show you view them as close family, or suegrón can be used if you have a fun, high-energy relationship |
| Mother-in-law | Suegra | Depends on the context it is used in | Suegrita can be used to show you view them as close family, or suegrona can be used if you have a fun, high-energy relationship |
| Brother-in-law | Cuñado | Formal/informal but can depend on context |
Cuñadito can be used to show you view them as close family, or cuñadito chulo can be used if you have a fun, high-energy relationship |
| Sister-in-law | Cuñada | Formal/informal but can depend on context |
Cuñadita can be used to show you view them as close family, or cuñadita chula can be used if you have a fun, high-energy relationship |
| Son-in-law | Yerno | Formal/informal but can depend on context |
Yernito can be used to show you view them as close family, or yernazo can be used if you have a fun, high-energy relationship |
| Daughter-in-law | Nuera | Formal/informal but can depend on context |
Nuerita can be used to show you view them as close family, or nueraza can be used if you have a fun, high-energy relationship. |
Which family members are the most important to remember?
That is entirely dependent on you and your family; generally, mother and father are good ones to
start with, but depending on your family structure, this could vary. It is also important to note how you interact with your family, as a more casual approach to conversation may work better rather than something too formal.
Can these phrases be used in a similar way to how they are used in English?
Yes, generally, these phrases and words are direct translations of these English counterparts. English and Spanish can be viewed as rather similar, so where these words would be used in English, they can also be used in Spanish. Often, there will be slightly different dialects depending on where you are.
Frequently asked questions
How important is learning the words for different family members?
Although they might not be quite as important as basic survival phrases such as please, thank you,
and help, they can be very useful if you find yourself in a conversation with a native speaker; you
never know who you may end up talking to.
How many times do I need to use a word before I remember it?
There isn’t a set number of times you need to use a word; it will depend on each person. If you’re
struggling to get words to stick, Memrise offers simple learning goals that you might find useful in
learning new vocabulary.
HIs it best to learn words, phrases, or complete sentences?
This will depend on what your goals are. If you are going on holiday and are looking for basic survival
phrases that can just get you by, then just learning those specific words would probably work best.
But if you are looking to become fluent and have full conversations, then complete sentences would
work better, as they can teach you things that singular words cannot.
What is the best way to learn a new language?
Everybody learns differently, so different things may work for different people, but generally, learning by hearing natives speak the language is a great way to see how the language is implemented in speech. Memrise offers this for multiple different languages, including Spanish, which can come in very handy!
