cuñado

koo-NYAH-doh/kuˈɲa.ðo/

“cuñado” means “brother-in-law” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

brother-in-law🔊A2Noun

The brother of one's spouse, or the husband of one's sibling.

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know-it-all🔊B2Noun

Used to describe a stereotypical person, often middle-aged, who is arrogant or gives unwanted advice.

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brother-in-law

NounmA2

A simple illustration showing two men shaking hands, with a woman standing between them and linking their arms, symbolizing the connection of a brother-in-law relationship.

📝 In Action

Mi cuñado nos ayudó a pintar la casa este fin de semana.

My brother-in-law helped us paint the house this weekend.

El esposo de mi hermana es mi cuñado.

My sister's husband is my brother-in-law.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

cuñado político – brother-in-law (sometimes used formally to emphasize the relationship by marriage)

know-it-all

Also: tacky person

NounmB2informal

Spain

An illustration of a middle-aged man standing on a small wooden soapbox with a smug look, gesturing emphatically while giving unwanted advice to a younger person who appears annoyed.

📝 In Action

Mi vecino es un cuñado, siempre opina de todo aunque no sepa nada.

My neighbor is a 'cuñado' (a know-it-all), he always gives opinions on everything even if he knows nothing.

Comprarse un televisor de ese tamaño es muy de cuñado.

Buying a TV that size is very 'cuñado' (very stereotypical/tacky).

Word Connections

Synonyms

listillo (smart aleck)
sabelotodo (know-it-all)

Common Collocations

tener mentalidad de cuñado – to have a 'cuñado' mindset (to be narrow-minded)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cuñado" in Spanish:

brother-in-law→know-it-all→tacky person→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cuñado

Question 1 of 1

If your Spanish friend says, 'No quiero escuchar la opinión de mi cuñado sobre economía,' which meaning is MOST likely intended?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

cuñada(sister-in-law) — Noun

pariente(relative) — Noun

hermano(brother) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

lado cansado

📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *cognatus*, which originally meant 'related by birth' or 'blood relative.' Over time, its meaning shifted in Vulgar Latin to refer specifically to relatives gained through marriage.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: cunhadoItalian: cognato

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'cuñado' to refer to a friend's brother?

No. 'Cuñado' is strictly a family relationship—the brother of your spouse or the husband of your sister/brother. Use 'hermano de mi amigo' (my friend's brother) instead.

Is the slang meaning of 'cuñado' used everywhere?

The slang meaning (know-it-all/tacky) is common in Spain but generally not understood in most of Latin America, where the word retains only its literal meaning of brother-in-law.