Lumi KidsFamily Members in Spanish for Kids, With Audio
Family words are personal, which is why kids remember them: every word has a face. Below are the 12 most useful family words in Spanish with English meanings, an easy "say it" guide and Lumi's audio, followed by the one grammar point kids notice and a photo game that works with any family.
Family words in Spanish, with audio
| Spanish | English | Say it | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| mamá | mom | mah-MAH | |
| papá | dad | pah-PAH | |
| hermana | sister | ehr-MAH-nah | |
| hermano | brother | ehr-MAH-noh | |
| abuela | grandma | ah-BWEH-lah | |
| abuelo | grandpa | ah-BWEH-loh | |
| bebé | baby | beh-BEH | |
| familia | family | fah-MEE-lyah | |
| tía | aunt | TEE-ah | |
| tío | uncle | TEE-oh | |
| prima | cousin (girl) | PREE-mah | |
| primo | cousin (boy) | PREE-moh |
Many words change their last letter for a girl or a boy: hermana, hermano; tía, tío. Voices: Lumi (AI-generated voice).
The capital letters show the stress. In mamá, papá and bebé the accent mark puts the stress on the last syllable: mah-MAH, not MAH-mah. The h in hermana is silent.
Boy or girl: hermano, hermana
Many family words change their ending: -o for a boy or man, -a for a girl or woman.
| Boy or man | Girl or woman | English |
|---|---|---|
| hermano | hermana | brother, sister |
| abuelo | abuela | grandpa, grandma |
| tío | tía | uncle, aunt |
| primo | prima | cousin |
For a group with boys and girls, Spanish uses the -os form: mis abuelos means "my grandparents" and mis primos can mean "my cousins".
The family photo game
You need one family photo, printed or on a phone.
- Point at a person and ask ¿Quién es? (KYEHN ehs), "Who is it?"
- Your child answers Es mi abuela ("It's my grandma") or just abuela.
- Then switch: your child asks ¿Quién es? and you answer, sometimes wrong on purpose. Kids love correcting a grown-up: ¡No, es mi tío!
Older kids can add one describing word: Mi papá es alto ("My dad is tall"), Mi hermana es pequeña ("My sister is little").
If Spanish is your family's language
For heritage families, family words are the easiest place to start because the people are right there: let grandparents use their own words with your child, even if they differ from this list. Our article on raising a bilingual child covers how to keep a grandparent's language going when everyone else speaks English.
In the Lumi Kids app, the family is the fifth world of the free Seed level, "My Family": mamá, papá, hermana, hermano, abuela, abuelo, bebé and familia, with sentences like Quiero a mi mamá ("I love my mom"). Your child practices them by listening, matching and talking with Lumi, the AI owl. See the app.
Free family words in Spanish worksheet (PDF)
Three pages: the family words with a say-it guide, a matching worksheet (Spanish to English) and a writing sheet. Free to print at home or in class.
Download the PDF: Family words in SpanishMore Spanish words for kids
- Spanish greetings: say hola to the whole family.
- Body parts in Spanish: Mi abuela tiene ojos azules.
- Food in Spanish: what does everyone like to eat?
- All Spanish words for kids.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say family members in Spanish?
Mom mamá (mah-MAH), dad papá (pah-PAH), sister hermana (ehr-MAH-nah), brother hermano (ehr-MAH-noh), grandma abuela (ah-BWEH-lah), grandpa abuelo (ah-BWEH-loh), baby bebé (beh-BEH), aunt tía, uncle tío, cousin prima or primo, and family familia.
What is the difference between papá and papa?
The accent moves the stress: papá (pah-PAH) is dad, while papa (PAH-pah) is a potato in Latin America. Kids usually find this very funny, which helps them remember the accent.
How do you say parents and siblings in Spanish?
Parents are los padres and grandparents los abuelos. Siblings are los hermanos, which can mean brothers or a mix of brothers and sisters; only sisters are las hermanas.
What do Spanish-speaking kids call their grandparents?
Abuela and abuelo are the standard words; many families use pet names like abuelita and abuelito, "granny" and "grandpa". In heritage families, ask your relatives what they like to be called and use that.
How can my child introduce their family in Spanish?
With Esta es mi… for a woman or girl and Este es mi… for a man or boy: Esta es mi mamá, Este es mi hermano. A family photo makes this a game.
In the Lumi Kids app, Lumi the AI owl talks with your child, corrects gently and hands out stars. Ages 4–9, no ads. The first two levels and the first minute of live conversation are free.
Download on the App Store
The team behind Lumi Kids. Articles are written using published research on early-childhood language acquisition and the curriculum built into the app, and are reviewed and updated over time. Questions or corrections: hello@lumikids.live
