Family members
The most common and standard words for 'Father' / 'Mother'.
More informal and affectionate terms for 'Dad' / 'Mom', used universally.
The standard words for 'Son' / 'Daughter'.
The standard words for 'Brother' / 'Sister'. The plural 'hermanos' can mean 'brothers' or 'siblings'.
The standard words for 'Grandfather' / 'Grandmother'.
This is my family.
My mother's name is Ana and my father's name is Carlos.
How many siblings do you have?
I have one son and two daughters.
My grandparents are from Colombia.
The basic vocabulary for family members ('madre', 'padre', 'hermano', etc.) is the same across all Spanish-speaking countries. The main differences are in informal nicknames.
It's very common to hear 'jefe' (boss) for 'dad' and 'jefa' for 'mom' in a very colloquial, affectionate way. For example, 'Voy a ver a mi jefa' (I'm going to see my mom).
Calling parents 'mi viejo' (my old man) and 'mi vieja' (my old lady) is a common and endearing term of affection. This can sound disrespectful in other countries.
The core vocabulary is the same. The main grammatical difference is the use of 'vosotros' for plural 'you', which affects possessives. For a group of friends, one would ask '¿Cómo están vuestros padres?' (How are your parents?), whereas in Latin America it's always '¿Cómo están sus padres?'
Incorrect: *Mi hermana es alto.* Correct: *Mi hermana es alta.* — In Spanish, adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe. Since 'hermana' (sister) is a feminine noun, the adjective 'alta' (tall) must also be in its feminine form.
Incorrect: *Mi padre son de Cuba.* Correct: *Mis padres son de Cuba.* — 'Padres' is the plural word for 'parents'. 'Padre' is singular for 'father'. You must use the plural form 'padres' when talking about both parents together. The verb must also be plural ('son' instead of 'es').
Incorrect: *Mi hermanos viven aquí.* Correct: *Mis hermanos viven aquí.* — The possessive adjective must match the noun in number (singular or plural). Use 'mi' for one thing ('mi hermano') and 'mis' for more than one ('mis hermanos').
Referring to siblings as *'hermanos y hermanas'*. — While not strictly incorrect, it's redundant. The masculine plural 'hermanos' is the default term for 'siblings' (a mixed group of brothers and sisters). Simply saying 'Tengo tres hermanos' is the most natural way to say 'I have three siblings'.
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