Family (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Family vocabulary and grammar
Basic family vocabulary
Learning how to talk about your family is essential for describing the people closest to you. Understanding family vocabulary allows you to introduce yourself and discuss personal relationships in Spanish conversations.
Here are the key family members you need to know:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el marido | husband |
| la mujer | wife |
| el padre | father |
| la madre | mother |
| el hermano | brother |
| la hermana | sister |
| el abuelo | grandfather |
| la abuela | grandmother |
| el tío | uncle |
| la tía | aunt |
Step-family vocabulary:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el padrastro | stepfather |
| la madrastra | stepmother |
| el hermanastro | stepbrother |
| la hermanastra | stepsister |
Step-family vocabulary follows the same gender patterns as regular family terms, with masculine forms ending in -o and feminine forms ending in -a.
Using family vocabulary in context
Here are some useful phrases to describe your family situation:
- Soy hijo único / hija única - I am an only child
- Tengo un hermano mayor y una hermana menor - I have an older brother and a younger sister
- Me parezco a mi padre - I look like my father
- casarse - to marry
Notice how hijo único changes to hija única depending on whether a male or female is speaking.
Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives show who something belongs to. In Spanish, they are essential for describing family relationships and personal belongings.
Possessive adjectives must agree with the noun they describe, not with the person who owns it. This is a fundamental difference from English!
| English | Singular noun | Plural noun |
|---|---|---|
| my | mi | mis |
| your (informal) | tu | tus |
| his/her/its/your (formal) | su | sus |
| our | nuestro/nuestra | nuestros/nuestras |
| your (plural informal) | vuestro/vuestra | vuestros/vuestras |
Important grammar rules
The possessive adjectives nuestro and vuestro have four forms because they must agree with both the gender and number of the noun:
- nuestro padre (our father) - masculine singular
- nuestra madre (our mother) - feminine singular
- nuestros hermanos (our brothers) - masculine plural
- nuestras hermanas (our sisters) - feminine plural
Worked Example: Choosing the correct possessive adjective
When describing "our grandmother":
- Identify the noun: abuela (feminine singular)
- Choose the possessive form that agrees: nuestra (feminine singular)
- Result: nuestra abuela ✓
When describing "our grandparents":
- Identify the noun: abuelos (masculine plural)
- Choose the possessive form that agrees: nuestros (masculine plural)
- Result: nuestros abuelos ✓
Example sentences
Practice with possessive adjectives:
- Mis padres son muy simpáticos - My parents are very nice
- Nuestra abuela es bastante activa - Our grandmother is quite active
- Sus hermanos viven en Madrid - His/her brothers live in Madrid
- Tu familia es muy grande - Your family is very big
Notice how each possessive adjective matches the gender and number of the family member being described.
Making nouns plural
When describing multiple family members, you need to make the masculine form plural. This is a key concept for understanding family relationships in Spanish.
- padre → padres (parents)
- abuelo → abuelos (grandparents)
- hermano → hermanos (brothers and sisters)
This pattern works because the masculine plural form includes both male and female family members when referring to the group as a whole. For example, hermanos can mean "brothers" or "brothers and sisters" depending on the context.
Translation practice
Translation Exercise:
Spanish to English:
- Mi hermana menor estudia en la universidad
- Nuestros abuelos viven cerca de nosotros
English to Spanish:
- My stepfather is very kind
- Our parents work in London
Answers:
- My younger sister studies at university
- Our grandparents live close to us
- Mi padrastro es muy simpático
- Nuestros padres trabajan en Londres
Exam tips
Essential exam strategies:
- Listen carefully in listening exercises - speakers might mention they would like a sister but actually are an only child
- Check noun gender when using possessive adjectives - remember that nuestro/vuestro change form
- Use context clues in comprehension questions - family descriptions often include ages and relationships
- Practice plurals - knowing that hermanos can mean "brothers and sisters" is crucial for understanding
Key Points to Remember:
- Possessive adjectives must agree with the noun being owned, not the owner
- Mi/tu/su stay the same for masculine and feminine nouns, but nuestro/vuestro change
- Masculine plural forms like padres and hermanos can refer to mixed groups
- Su can mean his, her, its, or your (formal) - use context to work out the meaning
- Step-family vocabulary follows the same patterns as regular family terms