This section of the site contains words and phrases needed to describe family relationships such as: 'He is my uncle on my fathers side' or 'My great-great-grandfather ... '

Asking about family contains the type of Spanish phrases you need to for asking about someone's family. E.g. 'How many brothers/sisters do you have?'.

Family relationships. General

English Spanish
my family mi familia
the parents los padres
the grandparents los abuelos
the great-grandparents los bisabuelos
the great-great-grandparents los tatarabuelos
the grandchildren los nietos
the great-grandchildren los bisnietos


In Spanish bis is used instead of the English 'great' and tatara for the English 'great-great'. This makes it easy to form 'great, great-great grandparents, grandchildren and so on'. All you need to do is prefix the appropriate word with bis or tatara.

Family relationships. Male

English Spanish
my family on my fathers side mi familia por parte de mi padre
on my fathers side por parte de mi padre
grandson nieto
great-grandson bisnieto
great-great-grandson tataranieto
my fathers mother mi abuela paterna
grandfather abuelo
great-grandfather bisabuelo
great-great-grandfather tatarabuelo
father padre
brother hermano
step-father padastro
step-brother hermanastro
brother-in-law cuņado
god-father padrino


Family relationships. Female

English Spanish
my family on my mothers side mi familia por parte de mi madre
on my mothers side por parte de mi madre
my mothers mother mi abuela materna
grandmother abuela
great-grandmother bisabuela
great-great-grandmother tatarabuela
great-granddaughter bisnieta
great-great-granddaughter tataranieta
mother madre
sister hermana
step-mother madrasta
step-sister hermanastra
sister-in-law cuņada
god-mother padrina