A happy, elderly man sitting on the floor, smiling, next to a small boy who is playing with colorful wooden building blocks.

nieto

NYEH-toh

NounmA1

grandson?The son of one's son or daughter.

Also:descendant?Often used in the plural (nietos) to mean descendants or grandchildren generally.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo me dio un regalo. Soy su nieto favorito.

My grandfather gave me a gift. I am his favorite grandson.

Mis padres tienen tres nietos y una nieta.

My parents have three grandsons and one granddaughter.

Los nietos de Don Ricardo siempre visitan la casa en verano.

Don Ricardo's grandchildren always visit the house in the summer.

Word Connections

Antonyms

abuelo (grandfather)
abuela (grandmother)

Common Collocations

nieto mayor – eldest grandson
ser el nieto de – to be the grandson of

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Pairing

In Spanish, family words often change based on gender. 'Nieto' is the male form (grandson), and 'nieta' is the female form (granddaughter).

The Plural 'Nietos'

When you use the plural 'nietos,' it usually means 'grandchildren' in general, even if the group includes girls ('nietas').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: "Using 'nieto' to refer to a girl."

Correction: Always use 'nieta' for a girl and 'nieto' for a boy. The word ending tells you the gender.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about Lineage

In formal or historical contexts, 'nietos' (plural) can sometimes be used simply to mean 'descendants,' emphasizing the connection to past generations.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: nieto

Question 1 of 2

If María is the daughter of Juan, and Pablo is the son of María, what is Pablo to Juan?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

nieta(granddaughter) - noun

bisnieto(great-grandson) - noun

abuelo(grandfather) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'nieto' ever used to mean 'nephew' in modern Spanish?

No. While the historical root of 'nieto' meant both 'grandson' and 'nephew,' modern Spanish strictly uses 'sobrino' for nephew and 'nieto' for grandson.

How do I say 'great-grandson'?

You add 'bis-' to the word: 'bisnieto'. This prefix is used for relationships two steps removed, like 'bisabuelo' (great-grandfather).