hermanos
“hermanos” means “siblings” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
siblings
Also: brothers and sisters
📝 In Action
¿Cuántos hermanos tienes?
A1How many siblings do you have?
Tengo dos hermanos: un chico y una chica.
A1I have two siblings: a boy and a girl.
Mis hermanos y yo vamos al cine esta noche.
A2My siblings and I are going to the movies tonight.
brothers
📝 In Action
Mis dos hermanos se llaman Carlos y Javier.
A1My two brothers are named Carlos and Javier.
Los hermanos Wright inventaron el avión.
B1The Wright brothers invented the airplane.
Ellos no son amigos, son hermanos.
A2They aren't friends, they're brothers.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hermanos
Question 1 of 1
If someone says, 'Tengo tres hermanos: Ana, Sofía y David,' how many sisters do they have?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'germānus', which meant 'full brother' or 'of the same parents'. It's related to words like 'germinate', as in coming from the same seed or origin.
First recorded: Around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Spanish use a masculine word, 'hermanos', to talk about sisters too?
It's a feature of Spanish grammar called the 'masculine plural' or 'default masculine'. When you have a group of people with mixed genders, you use the masculine plural form to refer to the whole group. This happens with 'hijos' (children/sons), 'padres' (parents/fathers), and many other words. It's just a grammar rule, not a reflection of importance!
Is there a single word for 'siblings' that isn't masculine?
Not a common, everyday one like in English. 'Hermanos' is the standard and most natural way to say 'siblings'. While you might see more inclusive language being proposed, for everyday conversation, 'hermanos' is what you'll hear and use.