In this lesson, we’ll dive into the essential vocabulary for identifying and naming family members in Spanish — a fundamental part of everyday conversation and cultural connection.
You’ll learn how to say words like madre (mother), padre (father), hermano (brother), hermana (sister), abuelo (grandfather), abuela (grandmother), and more.
Understanding these terms will help you:
- Talk about your own family
- Ask questions about someone else’s family
- Better connect with Spanish-speaking people and traditions
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to describe family relationships clearly and confidently — an important step on your Spanish journey. ¡Vamos!
Vocabulary Table about family members in Spanish
| Spanish Term | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Padre | Father |
| Madre | Mother |
| Hijo/Hija | Son/Daughter |
| Hermano/Hermana | Brother/Sister |
| Abuelo/Abuela | Grandfather/Grandmother |
| Nieto/Nieta | Grandson/Granddaughter |
| Tío/Tía | Uncle/Aunt |
| Sobrino/Sobrina | Nephew/Niece |
| Primo/Prima | Cousin |
| Marido | Husband |
| Mujer | Wife |
| Pareja | Partner |
| Cuñado/Cuñada | Brother-in-law/Sister-in-law |
| Gemelos/Mellizos | Twins |
| Materno | Maternal |
| Paterno | Paternal |
| Nuera | Daughter-in-law |
| Suegra | Mother-in-law |
| Yerno | Son-in-law |
Hablemos sobre la familia García y otras miembros de la familía
| Spanish Dialogue | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Antonio: Mi hermano vive en Madrid con su mujer. | Antonio: My brother lives in Madrid with his wife. |
| Penélope: Nuestros gemelos juegan en el jardín todos los días. | Penélope: Our twins play in the garden every day. |
| Lucía: Mi prima de Málaga visita a sus padres cada mes. | Lucía: My cousin from Málaga visits her parents every month. |
| Juan: Espero que el abuelo y la abuela nos visiten pronto. Me gusta cuando cuentan historias. | Juan: I hope grandpa and grandma visit us soon. I like it when they tell stories. |
| Abuela Rosa: Tu tío y tu tía siempre traen regalos cuando nos visitan. | Abuela Rosa: Your uncle and aunt always bring gifts when they visit us. |
| Abuelo Miguel: La pareja de tu hermano es muy amable. Siempre ayuda con la cena. | Abuelo Miguel: Your brother’s partner is very kind. She always helps with dinner. |
| Antonio: Nuestro sobrino está aprendiendo a tocar el piano. Pronto será mejor que yo. | Antonio: Our nephew is learning to play the piano. He will soon be better than me. |
| Penélope: La nuera de mi hermana trabaja en un banco. Es muy inteligente. | Penélope: My sister’s daughter-in-law works at a bank. She is very smart. |
| Lucía: Mi suegra me enseña a cocinar platos tradicionales españoles. | Lucía: My mother-in-law teaches me how to cook traditional Spanish dishes. |
| Juan: El yerno de nuestros vecinos es carpintero. Hizo nuestra mesa de comedor. | Juan: Our neighbors’ son-in-law is a carpenter. He made our dining table. |
Los miembros de la Familia García
| Family Member | Relation | Description (Spanish) | Description (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio | Padre | Antonio es el padre de Juan y Lucía. | Antonio is the father of Juan and Lucía. |
| Penélope | Madre | Penélope es la madre de Juan y Lucía. | Penélope is the mother of Juan and Lucía. |
| Juan | Hijo | Juan es el hijo de Antonio y Penélope, y el hermano de Lucía. | Juan is the son of Antonio and Penélope, and the brother of Lucía. |
| Lucía | Hija | Lucía es la hija de Antonio y Penélope, y la hermana de Juan. | Lucía is the daughter of Antonio and Penélope, and the sister of Juan. |
| Rosa | Abuela | Rosa es la abuela materna de Juan y Lucía. | Rosa is the maternal grandmother of Juan and Lucía. |
| Miguel | Abuelo | Miguel es el abuelo paterno de Juan y Lucía. | Miguel is the paternal grandfather of Juan and Lucía. |
| Carlos | Primo | Carlos, el primo de Juan, es hijo de Diego, el hermano de Antonio. | Carlos, Juan’s cousin, is the son of Diego, Antonio’s brother. |
| Diego | Tío | Diego es el hermano de Antonio y el padre de Carlos. | Diego is Antonio’s brother and Carlos’s father. |
| Isabella | Tía | Penélope tiene una hermana casada, Isabella, y su esposo es el cuñado de Antonio. | Penélope has a married sister, Isabella, whose husband is Antonio’s brother-in-law. |
| Jorge | Cuñado | El marido de la tía de Juan se llama Jorge y su mujer es la hermana de Penélope. | Juan’s aunt’s husband is named Jorge, and his wife is Penélope’s sister. |
| Alberto | Tío | Abuela Rosa tiene un gemelo, el tío Alberto. | Grandmother Rosa has a twin, Uncle Alberto. |
| Sobrino de Antonio | Sobrino | Antonio tiene un sobrino que es hijo de su hermana. | Antonio has a nephew who is his sister’s son. |
Click on the names and then click on the related boxes.