filial
“filial” means “filial” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
filial
Also: child-like
📝 In Action
Siente un gran amor filial por sus abuelos.
B1He feels a great filial love for his grandparents.
Es su deber filial cuidar de sus padres.
B2It is her filial duty to take care of her parents.
La piedad filial es un valor muy importante en muchas culturas.
C1Filial piety is a very important value in many cultures.
subsidiary
Also: branch
📝 In Action
La empresa abrió una nueva filial en México.
B2The company opened a new subsidiary in Mexico.
Nuestra filial francesa reportó grandes beneficios este año.
B2Our French subsidiary reported great profits this year.
El banco tiene filiales en todo el mundo.
C1The bank has branches all over the world.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: filial
Question 1 of 3
In a business context, what is 'la filial'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'filialis', which comes from 'filius' (son) and 'filia' (daughter). It literally means 'relating to a son or daughter'.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'filial' to talk about my love for my pet?
Technically no. 'Filial' specifically refers to the human relationship between children and parents. For pets, you'd just use 'amor' or 'cariño'.
Is 'filial' used in sports?
Yes! In Spain, big soccer clubs often have a 'filial' team (like a B-team) where younger players train before moving to the main team.
Does 'filial' always mean a separate company?
In strict business terms, yes. A 'filial' has its own legal identity, whereas a 'sucursal' (branch) is just another location of the same legal entity.