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hermandad

er-man-DADeɾmanˈdað

“hermandad” means “brotherhood” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

brotherhood, sisterhood

Also: fellowship, kinship
NounfB1
A simple illustration showing two people embracing warmly, symbolizing a strong, shared bond of brotherhood.

📝 In Action

La hermandad entre los bomberos es muy fuerte después de un incendio.

B1

The brotherhood among the firefighters is very strong after a fire.

Sentimos una gran hermandad con la gente del pueblo.

B2

We feel a great fellowship with the people of the town.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • enemistad (enmity, hostility)

Common Collocations

  • lazos de hermandad – bonds of brotherhood/sisterhood
  • espíritu de hermandad – spirit of brotherhood

confraternity, fraternity

Also: guild, society
NounfB2formal
Spain (especially Andalusia)
An illustration of four figures wearing matching, simple dark cloaks standing formally in a line, representing a religious society or confraternity.

📝 In Action

La hermandad de la ciudad prepara los pasos para la procesión anual.

B2

The city's confraternity prepares the floats for the annual procession.

Mi abuelo pertenecía a una hermandad de pescadores.

C1

My grandfather belonged to a guild of fishermen.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cofradía (religious brotherhood)
  • gremio (guild)

Common Collocations

  • hermandad religiosa – religious confraternity
  • miembro de la hermandad – member of the organization

Vocabulary Collections

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hermandad

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'hermandad' to mean 'a formal organization'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
hermano(brother) — Noun
hermana(sister) — Noun
hermanar(to unite, to link) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Spanish word 'hermano' (brother) combined with the common Spanish suffix '-dad', which is used to create nouns expressing a quality or state. It essentially means 'the state of being a sibling' or 'the quality of being united.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: irmandadeOld French: fraternité

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Frequently Asked Questions

If 'hermandad' comes from 'hermano' (brother), why does it apply to women too?

'Hermandad' refers to the abstract concept of 'siblinghood' or 'unity,' which covers both brothers and sisters. Think of it as 'fellowship' or 'kinship'—it's about the bond, regardless of gender.

Can I use 'hermandad' to talk about a university fraternity or sorority?

Yes, you can. While 'fraternidad' is more common for college groups, 'hermandad' works well, especially if you want to emphasize the deep bond and loyalty within the group.