hermana
/er-MA-na/
sister
The most common meaning of hermana is 'sister' (a female sibling).
📝 In Action
Mi hermana mayor vive en Madrid.
A1My older sister lives in Madrid.
¿Cuántas hermanas tienes?
A1How many sisters do you have?
Ella y su hermana se parecen mucho.
A2She and her sister look a lot alike.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Because 'hermana' ends in '-a', it's a feminine word. Any words that describe it must also be feminine, like 'mi hermana es alta' (my sister is tall).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Silent 'h'
Mistake: "Mi ermana vive aquí."
Correction: Mi hermana vive aquí. The 'h' at the start of Spanish words is always silent, but it's very important for spelling!
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Siblings in General
To talk about 'siblings' (brothers and sisters together), you use the masculine plural form: 'hermanos'. So, 'Tengo dos hermanos' could mean 'I have two brothers' OR 'I have a brother and a sister'.
In formal or religious contexts, hermana refers to a 'sister' or nun, a member of a religious order.
hermana(Noun)
sister
?a nun or member of a religious order
nun
?member of a female religious community
📝 In Action
La hermana Teresa dedicó su vida a los pobres.
B1Sister Teresa dedicated her life to the poor.
Las hermanas del convento rezan cada mañana.
B2The sisters of the convent pray every morning.
En el hospital, me atendió una hermana de la caridad.
B2At the hospital, a sister of charity attended to me.
💡 Grammar Points
Using it as a Title
Just like in English, 'hermana' can be used as a title before a name. It's often capitalized in this case: 'Hermana Lucía'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Everything
You'll know someone means 'nun' instead of 'sibling' from the conversation. Look for other clues like 'convento' (convent), 'iglesia' (church), or a religious name.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hermana
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly describes a sister who is nice?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'stepsister' or 'half-sister'?
Great question! For 'stepsister', you say 'hermanastra'. For 'half-sister', you say 'media hermana'.
If 'hermana' means sister, what does 'hermanita' mean?
'Hermanita' means 'little sister'. Adding '-ita' to the end of a noun is a common way in Spanish to show affection or to indicate something is small or young.