Relationships vocabulary in Spanish for talking about family, friends, romantic partners, and more.
Building relationships is a key part of life — and learning the vocabulary helps you connect in Spanish-speaking cultures. This guide covers essential terms for describing family ties, friendships, romantic relationships, and social connections.
Family Relationships
Family is the foundation of most relationships. Here are the key terms for talking about immediate and extended family in Spanish.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| padre | padres | father | fathers/parents | Mi padre es médico. | My father is a doctor. |
| madre | madres | mother | mothers | Mi madre cocina bien. | My mother cooks well. |
| hermano | hermanos | brother | brothers/siblings | Tengo un hermano mayor. | I have an older brother. |
| hermana | hermanas | sister | sisters | Tengo dos hermanas. | I have two sisters. |
| abuelo | abuelos | grandfather | grandfathers/grandparents | Mi abuelo cuenta historias. | My grandfather tells stories. |
| abuela | abuelas | grandmother | grandmothers | Mi abuela hace pasteles. | My grandmother bakes cakes. |
| tío | tíos | uncle | uncles | Mi tío vive en España. | My uncle lives in Spain. |
| tía | tías | aunt | aunts | Mi tía es profesora. | My aunt is a teacher. |
| primo | primos | cousin (m.) | cousins | Mi primo juega fútbol. | My cousin plays soccer. |
| prima | primas | cousin (f.) | cousins | Mi prima estudia arte. | My cousin studies art. |
Friendship Vocabulary
Talking about friends is essential for everyday social life. These words help you describe different types of friendships.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| amigo | amigos | friend (m.) | friends | Mi amigo es simpático. | My friend is nice. |
| amiga | amigas | friend (f.) | friends | Mi amiga es muy inteligente. | My friend is very smart. |
| compañero | compañeros | classmate/companion (m.) | classmates/companions | Soy compañero de clase de Juan. | I am Juan’s classmate. |
| compañera | compañeras | classmate/companion (f.) | classmates/companions | Mi compañera es responsable. | My classmate is responsible. |
| conocido | conocidos | acquaintance (m.) | acquaintances | Es un conocido del trabajo. | He is a work acquaintance. |
| conocida | conocidas | acquaintance (f.) | acquaintances | Tengo muchas conocidas en la ciudad. | I have many acquaintances in the city. |
| mejor amigo | mejores amigos | best friend (m.) | best friends | Luis es mi mejor amigo. | Luis is my best friend. |
| mejor amiga | mejores amigas | best friend (f.) | best friends | Ana es mi mejor amiga. | Ana is my best friend. |
| vecino | vecinos | neighbor (m.) | neighbors | Mi vecino es muy amable. | My neighbor is very kind. |
| vecina | vecinas | neighbor (f.) | neighbors | La vecina canta bien. | The neighbor sings well. |
Romantic Relationships
These terms are used to describe dating, partners, spouses, and love life in Spanish.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| novio | novios | boyfriend/fiancé | boyfriends/fiancés | Mi novio es alto. | My boyfriend is tall. |
| novia | novias | girlfriend/fiancé | girlfriends/fiancés | Mi novia es cariñosa. | My girlfriend is affectionate. |
| esposo | esposos | husband | husbands | Mi esposo trabaja mucho. | My husband works a lot. |
| esposa | esposas | wife | wives | Mi esposa es doctora. | My wife is a doctor. |
| pareja | parejas | partner/couple | partners/couples | Salgo con mi pareja al cine. | I go to the movies with my partner. |
| amor | amores | love | loves | El amor es importante. | Love is important. |
| cita | citas | date | dates | Tengo una cita esta noche. | I have a date tonight. |
| compromiso | compromisos | engagement | engagements | Tuvieron un compromiso el año pasado. | They got engaged last year. |
| divorcio | divorcios | divorce | divorces | El divorcio fue amistoso. | The divorce was amicable. |
| separación | separaciones | separation | separations | Están en proceso de separación. | They are in the process of separation. |
Tuvieron un __ el año pasado.
What is the Spanish word for 'engagement'?
compromiso
“Compromiso” means ‘engagement’ — the promise to marry.
Social Connections
Beyond family, friends, and romance, these words help describe broader social relationships and roles.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colega | colegas | colleague | colleagues | Trabajo con muchos colegas. | I work with many colleagues. |
| jefe | jefes | boss (m.) | bosses | Mi jefe es estricto. | My boss is strict. |
| jefa | jefas | boss (f.) | bosses | La jefa está en una reunión. | The boss is in a meeting. |
| vecino | vecinos | neighbor (m.) | neighbors | Mis vecinos son ruidosos. | My neighbors are noisy. |
| vecina | vecinas | neighbor (f.) | neighbors | La vecina ayuda mucho. | The neighbor helps a lot. |
| compañero | compañeros | companion/mate (m.) | companions/mates | Mi compañero de viaje es simpático. | My travel companion is nice. |
| compañera | compañeras | companion/mate (f.) | companions/mates | Mi compañera de oficina es amable. | My office mate is kind. |
| amigo de la infancia | amigos de la infancia | childhood friend | childhood friends | Mi amigo de la infancia vive aquí. | My childhood friend lives here. |
| conocido | conocidos | acquaintance (m.) | acquaintances | Tengo muchos conocidos en la ciudad. | I have many acquaintances in the city. |
| conocida | conocidas | acquaintance (f.) | acquaintances | Es una conocida del gimnasio. | She is an acquaintance from the gym. |
Understanding these core relationship terms will help you navigate conversations about family, friendships, dating, and social life with confidence in Spanish.
La ___ está en una reunión.
How do you say 'boss' (female) in Spanish?
jefa
“Jefa” is the feminine form of ‘boss.’
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Singular: father
- English Plural: fathers/parents
- English Example: My father is a doctor.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
