Spanish Family Words: Learn the Names for Every Relative

In Spanish-speaking cultures, you call your girlfriend’s mom ‘suegra.’ This term shows respect and acknowledges her role in the family. Using the right words like ‘suegra’ can help you connect better with her and shows you value the relationship.

It’s interesting to think about how these family terms shape the way people interact with each other in Spanish-speaking families. Understanding this can make communication smoother and relationships stronger.

What are the family members in Spanish?

Knowing the Spanish words for family members can help you communicate respectfully and show you understand the culture when you talk to your girlfriend’s mom. Here are some basic terms:

Mother is ‘madre.’ Father is ‘padre.’ If you’re talking about a brother, say ‘hermano,’ and for a sister, it’s ‘hermana.’

For the wider family, grandfather is ‘abuelo,’ grandmother is ‘abuela.’ Uncle and aunt are ‘tío’ and ‘tía,’ respectively. For cousins, use ‘primo’ for a male and ‘prima’ for a female.

Term	Meaning
Madre	Mother
Padre	Father
Hermano	Brother
Hermana	Sister
Abuelo	Grandfather
Abuela	Grandmother
Tío	Uncle
Tía	Aunt
Primo	Male cousin
Prima	Female cousin
Nieto	Grandson
Nieta	Granddaughter

How to say mother and father in Spanish

Let’s move on from how nouns and adjectives align in Spanish. Now, let’s cover the simple terms for ‘mother’ and ‘father’:

‘madre’ and ‘padre.’

Knowing these words is key when you talk about family in Spanish. Use ‘madre’ for ‘mother’ and ‘padre’ for ‘father.’ These terms help you speak clearly and respectfully with Spanish-speaking families.

Term	Meaning
Madre	Mother – formal.
Padre	Father – formal.
Mamá	Mom – informal.
Papá	Dad – informal.
Mami	Mommy – affectionate.
Papi	Daddy – affectionate.
Jefa	Boss – playful for mom (Mexico).
Jefe	Boss – playful for dad (Mexico).
Vieja	Old lady – affectionate slang for mom.
Viejo	Old man – affectionate slang for dad.
Mamacita	Mommy – playful, sometimes flirtatious.
Papito	Daddy – affectionate or playful.

Mastering Reflexive Verbs in Spanish: A Complete Guide

How to call family members in the plural

When you talk about more than one family member in Spanish, the words change a bit to show there’s more than one. For example, if you have more than one mother or father, you say ‘madres’ for mothers and ‘padres’ for fathers. Similarly, for brothers, it’s ‘hermanos,’ and for sisters, it’s ‘hermanas.’

When you have a group of both brothers and sisters, you just use ‘hermanos’ to cover everyone. Usually, you just add an -s or -es to make these words plural, depending on how they end.

Term	Meaning
Padres	Parents
Abuelos	Grandparents
Hermanos	Siblings (or just brothers)
Hermanas	Sisters
Tíos	Uncles (or uncles & aunts)
Tías	Aunts
Primos	Male cousins (or mixed group)
Primas	Female cousins
Nietos	Grandchildren
Hijos	Children
Cuñados	Brothers-in-law (or mixed group)
Suegros	In-laws (parents-in-law)

How to call the couple in Spanish?

In Spanish, when you talk about a couple, you use the word ‘pareja’. It applies to everyone, whether they’re married or not, and it doesn’t matter their gender or sexual orientation.

It’s a simple, straightforward word that fits in any kind of conversation. So, when you’re discussing relationships in Spanish, just remember ‘pareja’ is your go-to term.

Term	Meaning
Novios	Boyfriend & Girlfriend
Pareja	Couple
Esposos	Married couple
Marido y Mujer	Husband and Wife
Amor	Love – used as a nickname
Mi Vida	My life
Tortolitos	Lovebirds
Comprometidos	Engaged couple
Enamorados	People in love
Media Naranja	Soulmate (literally “half an orange”)
Amantes	Lovers
Amigovios	Friends with benefits (slang)

How to call those from mixed families

When talking to members of mixed families in Spanish, you often see a mix of different cultural terms and polite titles.

For instance, you might hear someone use ‘suegra’ or ‘madre’ alongside other specific terms from their own culture.

This way, they respect and celebrate both the language and cultural backgrounds in the family.

Term	Meaning
Padrastro	Stepfather
Madrastra	Stepmother
Hermanastro	Stepbrother
Hermanastra	Stepsister
Medio hermano	Half-brother
Media hermana	Half-sister
Hijastro	Stepson
Hijastra	Stepdaughter
Familia Ensamblada	Blended family
Tío Político	Uncle by marriage
Tía Política	Aunt by marriage
Sobrino Político	Nephew by marriage

How to call children in Spanish

In Spanish, people use different terms to talk to children, depending on the situation and how close they are.

For casual moments, ‘niño’ or ‘niña’ works well, and ‘chico’ or ‘chica’ is good for older kids.

If someone is showing affection, they might say ‘hijo’ or ‘hija’ (which means son or daughter) or ‘peque’, short for pequeño, which means little one.

These terms can change a lot in different Spanish-speaking areas.

Term	Meaning
Hijo	Son
Hija	Daughter
Niño	Boy
Niña	Girl
Bebé	Baby
Chamaco	Kid (Mexico)
Chaval	Kid (Spain)
Pibe	Kid (Argentina)
Crío	Child (Spain)
Escuincle	Brat (Mexico)
Guagua	Baby (Chile, Ecuador)
Muchachito	Little boy

Master “por” and “para” with these practical examples.

How to call in-laws of the family in Spanish

When you talk to your in-laws in Spanish, you use special words. If it’s your girlfriend’s mom, you call her ‘suegra.’ Her dad is ‘suegro.’ These words show you respect them but also feel close, like family.

It’s important to get this right to keep things smooth in the family.

Term	Meaning
Suegro	Father-in-law
Suegra	Mother-in-law
Cuñado	Brother-in-law
Cuñada	Sister-in-law
Yerno	Son-in-law
Nuera	Daughter-in-law
Consuegro	Your child’s father-in-law
Consuegra	Your child’s mother-in-law
Familia Política	In-laws (general term)
Cuñis	Slang for brother/sister-in-law
Suergris	Playful slang for mother-in-law
Yernito/Nuerita	Cute way to say son/daughter-in-law

Family members in Spanish Slang

In Spanish slang, people often use more casual, affectionate terms for family members. For example, ‘viejo’ and ‘vieja’ are informal words for dad and mom. They sound friendly and warm.

Also, instead of ‘hermano,’ people might say ‘bro’ or ‘mana’ when they’re talking casually. This kind of language shows how close and comfortable family members are with each other.

Term	Meaning
Viejo/Vieja	Old man/lady – affectionate for parents.
Tata	Grandpa (Argentina, Spain).
Nana	Grandma (Mexico).
Primo	Bro – used among friends in some countries.
Carnal	Brother/best friend (Mexico).
Mamá Lucha	Fighting mom – strong mom figure.
Papucho	Handsome dad.
Padrino	Godfather – also used for a close older male.
Mamacita	Attractive woman (sometimes for mom).
Hermanito	Little brother – used among close friends too.
Bendición	What kids say to parents for blessings.
Flaco	Slim guy – used affectionately for a son.

Conclusion

In Spanish, they have a lot of words for family members that show respect and recognize everyone’s specific role in the family. For example, you’d call your girlfriend’s mom ‘suegra.’ Knowing the right words to use is important because it shows respect and helps build stronger relationships.

When you get these terms right, you communicate better and connect more deeply with others, which is really valuable in any culture.

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