huérfano
“huérfano” means “orphan” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
orphan
Also: waif
📝 In Action
El niño se quedó huérfano tras el accidente.
B1The boy became an orphan after the accident.
La novela cuenta la historia de un huérfano en Londres.
B1The novel tells the story of an orphan in London.
Muchos huérfanos de la guerra fueron acogidos por familias locales.
B2Many war orphans were taken in by local families.
orphaned, bereft
Also: abandoned
📝 In Action
El proyecto se quedó huérfano de apoyo financiero.
C1The project was left bereft of financial support.
Después de la renuncia del líder, el partido se siente huérfano.
B2After the leader's resignation, the party feels orphaned.
Es una teoría huérfana de pruebas científicas.
C1It is a theory lacking scientific evidence.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: huérfano
Question 1 of 3
Which verb is most commonly used to describe someone 'becoming' an orphan?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Greek word 'orphanós,' which passed through Latin as 'orphanus.' It has always carried the core meaning of being 'deprived' or 'empty' of something.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'huérfano' always mean both parents are gone?
Usually, yes. However, you can specify 'huérfano de padre' (fatherless) or 'huérfano de madre' (motherless) if only one parent has passed away.
Why is there an accent on the 'e'?
In Spanish, if a word is stressed on the third-to-last syllable (an 'esdrújula' word), it must always have a written accent. Since we say WEHR-fah-noh, the accent goes on that first syllable.
Is 'orfanato' the only word for orphanage?
It is the most common, though you might also hear 'hospicio' or 'casa cuna' in some historical or regional contexts.