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hermano

/er-MAH-no/

brother

Two happy young boys smiling and holding hands in a sunny field.

A visual representation of 'hermano' as a male sibling or brother.

hermano(Noun)

mA1
brother?A male who has the same parents as you.
Also:sibling?Only in the plural form 'hermanos', it can mean 'siblings' (brothers and sisters together).

📝 In Action

Mi hermano se llama Carlos.

A1

My brother's name is Carlos.

Tengo dos hermanos y una hermana.

A1

I have two brothers and one sister.

En total, somos cuatro hermanos en mi familia.

A2

In total, we are four siblings in my family.

Word Connections

Antonyms

  • hermana (sister)

Common Collocations

  • hermano mayor – older brother
  • hermano menor – younger brother
  • medio hermano – half-brother
  • hermanastro – stepbrother

Idioms & Expressions

  • llevarse como el perro y el gato – To fight all the time or not get along (often used to describe siblings).

💡 Grammar Points

One Word for 'Siblings'

In Spanish, if you have one brother and one sister, you say 'Tengo dos hermanos.' The masculine plural form 'hermanos' is used for a group of all brothers, or a mixed group of brothers and sisters.

Using 'el' and 'un'

Since 'hermano' is a masculine word, you'll use masculine articles with it, like 'el hermano' (the brother) and 'un hermano' (a brother).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Mixed-Group Rule

Mistake: "If you have a brother and a sister, you might say 'Tengo un hermano y una hermana.' While correct, if you want to say 'I have two siblings,' you need the masculine plural."

Correction: Say 'Tengo dos hermanos' to mean 'I have two siblings' (one boy, one girl). Don't use 'hermanas' unless the group is all female.

⭐ Usage Tips

Older and Younger

Instead of saying 'older' or 'younger' with separate words, Spanish attaches 'mayor' (older) or 'menor' (younger) after the noun: 'mi hermano mayor' (my older brother).

A man wearing a simple brown hooded robe standing near an old stone monastery wall.

'Hermano' used in a religious context to refer to a brother or friar.

hermano(Noun)

mB2
brother?A member of a religious community, like a monk or friar.
Also:bro / dude?A very informal and friendly way to address a male friend, common in some parts of Latin America.,fellow man / fellow member?Used in a broader sense to mean all of humanity or members of a group.

📝 In Action

El hermano José dedicó su vida a ayudar a los pobres.

B2

Brother José dedicated his life to helping the poor.

En la fraternidad, todos se tratan como hermanos.

B2

In the fraternity, everyone treats each other like brothers.

¡Oye, hermano! ¿Cómo has estado?

B1

Hey, bro! How have you been?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fraile (friar)
  • monje (monk)
  • amigo (friend)

Common Collocations

  • hermano de sangre – blood brother
  • hermano de armas – brother in arms

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Formality

Mistake: "Using the informal 'hermano' (bro) in a situation that requires formality."

Correction: Pay attention to context. Addressing a stranger or a superior as 'hermano' can be seen as overly familiar or disrespectful. Stick to 'señor' or 'usted' in formal settings.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Everything

The meaning of 'hermano' changes dramatically with context. If you're in a church, it means 'brother' in a religious sense. If you're with close friends in Mexico, it might just mean 'dude'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hermano

Question 1 of 1

If someone says, 'Tengo tres hermanos,' what is definitely TRUE?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

hermana(sister) - noun
hermandad(brotherhood, sisterhood, fraternity) - noun
hermanar(to link, to unite, to twin) - verb
hermanastro(stepbrother) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'hermano', 'medio hermano', and 'hermanastro'?

Great question! 'Hermano' is your full brother (same mother and father). 'Medio hermano' is your half-brother (you share one parent). 'Hermanastro' is your stepbrother (you are related by the marriage of your parents, but share no biological parents).

How do I say 'I don't have any siblings'?

The easiest way is to say 'No tengo hermanos.' Because 'hermanos' covers both brothers and sisters in this context, this one phrase works perfectly.