How to Discuss Your Family Tree in Spanish
Knowing your family tree in Spanish is a meaningful way to connect to your ancestors, learn more about your family, and practice your Spanish skills in the process.
Family is central to life in Spanish-speaking countries. So how do you talk about family in Spanish? If you’ve ever been to a Spanish speaking country, you’ve probably noticed the frequent use of diminutives as a term of endearment, such as tita for abuelita, papi meaning daddy, or hermanito for little brother.
Read this article to learn how to talk about your family tree in Spanish and compose Spanish sentences about your family members. What’s more, you’re not just learning a language but immersing yourself in a culture that loves making you feel like family whenever you visit their homes.
Family Tree Vocabulary in Spanish
Let’s learn all about the family tree in Spanish, including the vocabulary that you need and how to use it naturally!
Los ancestros – Ancestors
El primogénito – Firstborn
El segundogénito – Second born
El gemelo/la gemela – Identical twin
El orden cronológico – Chronological order
Los decendentes – Descendants
La familia – Family
El árbol de familia – Family tree
La genealogia – Genealogy
El apellido de soltera – Maiden name
El apellido – Last name
La cronologia – Timeline
Family Members in Spanish
It’s important to know that Spanish is grammatically gendered. Spanish nouns are classified as either masculine or feminine. For example, the generic name for uncles and aunts in Spanish is los tíos. You don’t need to say tíos y tías as we do in English because the word tíos includes both.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the family tree members in Spanish.
Immediate Family
El padre – Father
La madre – Mother
El hijo – Son
La hija – Daughter
El esposo – Husband
La esposa – Wife
Los padres – Parents
El hermano – Brother
La hermana – Sister
Extended Family
El bisabuelo – Great Grandfather
La bisabuela – Great Grandmother
Los abuelos – Grandparents
El abuelo – Grandfather
La abuela – Grandmother
El tío – Uncle
La tía – Aunt
Los primos – Cousins
El primo – Cousin (Male)
La prima – Cousin (Female)
El sobrino – Nephew
La sobrina – Niece
Los nietos – Grandchildren
El nieto – Grandson
La nieta – Granddaughter
El bisnieto – Great Grandson
La bisnieta – Great Granddaughter
In-Laws
The in-laws are the members of the family of your spouse or your family’s spouses.
El suegro – Father-in-law
La suegra – Mother-in-law
El yerno – Son-in-law
La nuera – Daughter-in-law
El cuñado – Brother-in-law
La cuñada – Sister-in-law
Example Sentences
Tengo un tío que se llama Armando.
I have an uncle called Armando.
Mi tía favorita es Beatriz.
Beatriz is my favorite aunt.
Mi prima se llama Maria.
I have a cousin named Maria.
Marie es mi cuñada.
Marie is my sister-in-law.
Guillermo es mi padre.
Guillermo is my father.
Juana es mi prima favorita.
Juana is my favorite cousin.
Useful Expressions to Discuss Your Family Tree in Spanish
It is common for families to come up in Spanish conversation. Make sure to take your time learning and practicing family vocabulary and expressions so that you’re ready!
1. Presentar a alguien – to introduce someone
Te presento a mi esposo.
Let me introduce you to my husband.
2. Él/ella + es + relationship to you – he/she + is + relationship to you
Ella es mi tía.
She is my aunt.
3. Tengo (I have) + number + siblings, cousins, uncles, or aunts
Tengo cuatro hermanos. Dos hermanos y dos hermanas.
I have four siblings. Two brothers and two sisters.
4. Mi familia + es + adjective
Mi familia es muy expresiva.
My family is very expressive.
Family Tree in Spanish Example
Use the example below of Lydia’s family tree, and create sentences to practice each member’s relationship to the other. I’ve provided a few example sentences to help you get started.
Example Sentences
Lydia es la madre de Manuel e Isabel.
Lydia is Manuel and Isabel’s mother.
Lydia es la abuela de Karla.
Lydia is Karla’s grandmother.
Karla es la prima de Guillermo.
Karla is Guillermo’s cousin.
Talk About Your Family Tree in Spanish
Speaking a new language is challenging, but it’s important to remember that the only way to learn something new is by not being afraid to try. As a teacher, I always encourage my students not to be afraid to make a mistake; it’s the only way to learn.
Talking about your family is an excellent way to make conversation. People love to talk about their family in Spanish because it’s such a major part of their culture.
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are words used in place of articles to indicate to whom or to what something belongs. They indicate possession and are commonly found when discussing your family tree In Spanish.
Jorge es mi abuelo.
Jorge is my grandfather.
Manuela es tu prima.
Manuela is your cousin.
Selina es nuestra tía.
Selina is our aunt.
Isabel es su madre.
Isabel is my mother.
Possessive de
In English, we use ’s (apostrophe s) to indicate that one noun possesses another. The Spanish equivalent is the preposition de. Note that the order of the nouns is reversed.
La tía de Pedro es Margarita.
Pedro’s aunt is Margarita.
Los primos de Juana viven en México.
Juana’s cousins live in Mexico.
El hermano de Miranda es dentista.
Miranda’s brother is a dentist.
Make Your Own Family Tree in Spanish
Try creating your own family tree in Spanish. It can be as simple or complex as you’d like. If you’re doing it with kids, try to use many colors so that they can have fun with it.
Creating a family tree in Spanish is one of the best ways to practice family terms and learn where you come from. And if you want to get even more creative, get your whole family involved to see if they can learn with you how to say madre, padre, hermano, hermana, primos, tios and much more! You’d be surprised to see how supportive family can be when it comes to learning a new skill. And if you’d like to discuss your family tree in Spanish, sign up for a free class and have a conversation with a friendly, native-speaking Spanish teacher today.
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