abuelo
/ah-BWEH-loh/
grandfather
Abuelo means grandfather. This illustration shows an abuelo reading to his grandchild.
abuelo(Noun)
grandfather
?The father of one's parent.
granddad
?A common, informal equivalent.
,grandpa
?A common, informal equivalent.
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo me enseñó a pescar.
A1My grandfather taught me how to fish.
El abuelo de mi amiga tiene noventa años.
A2My friend's grandfather is ninety years old.
En plural, 'abuelos' se usa para hablar de los abuelos en conjunto (abuelo y abuela).
A2In plural, 'abuelos' is used to talk about grandparents together (grandfather and grandmother).
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural for Mixed Groups
To talk about your grandfather AND grandmother together, you use the masculine plural form: 'mis abuelos'. This is a key rule in Spanish – if a group has even one male, the whole group is referred to with the masculine form.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Mixed-Gender Rule
Mistake: "Mis abuelo y abuela viven en Madrid."
Correction: 'Mis abuelos viven en Madrid.' It feels strange at first, but using the plural 'abuelos' is the natural and correct way to refer to the pair.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Ancestors
The plural 'abuelos' can also be used more broadly to mean 'ancestors' or 'forefathers'. For example, 'Nuestros abuelos vinieron de Irlanda' means 'Our ancestors came from Ireland'.
Abuelo can also be used informally to refer to any elderly man, or 'old man'.
abuelo(Noun)
old man
?An elderly man in general.
old fellow
?Can be used affectionately.
,old geezer
?Can be slightly disrespectful depending on tone.
📝 In Action
Un abuelo simpático me ayudó a cruzar la calle.
B1A nice old man helped me cross the street.
En el parque, siempre hay un grupo de abuelos jugando a las cartas.
B2In the park, there's always a group of old men playing cards.
⭐ Usage Tips
Be Careful with Strangers
Calling an unfamiliar elderly man 'abuelo' can be seen as either friendly and warm or a bit disrespectful, depending on the context and your tone. The word 'señor' (sir) is always a safer and more polite choice.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: abuelo
Question 1 of 1
If you want to talk about your grandmother and grandfather together, what is the correct Spanish word?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'abuelo' and 'abuelito'?
'Abuelito' is a more affectionate and tender version of 'abuelo'. It's like saying 'grandpa' or 'grandpappy' instead of 'grandfather'. Children use it a lot, but adults also use it to show love and closeness.
How do I say 'great-grandfather'?
You add the prefix 'bis-', so it becomes 'bisabuelo'. For great-great-grandfather, you add 'tatara-', making it 'tatarabuelo'.