hermana
“hermana” means “sister” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sister
📝 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.
sister
Also: nun
📝 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.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hermana
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly describes a sister who is nice?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'germāna', which meant 'full sister' (from the same parents). Over time, the 'g' sound at the beginning softened and disappeared in Spanish, leaving us with 'hermana'.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.