nietos
“nietos” means “grandchildren” in Spanish (plural, collective group (both male and female)).
grandchildren
Also: grandsons
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos tienen cinco nietos en total.
A1My grandparents have five grandchildren in total.
Todos los nietos vinieron a la fiesta de Navidad.
A2All the grandchildren came to the Christmas party.
Los nietos de mi vecina son muy educados.
B1My neighbor's grandsons (or grandchildren) are very polite.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: nietos
Question 1 of 2
If a couple has two grandsons and three granddaughters, how do you correctly refer to all five children together?
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📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from the Latin word *nepos*, which originally meant both 'nephew' and 'grandson.' Over time, Spanish clarified the meaning to focus on the grandparent/grandchild relationship.
First recorded: c. 13th century (in early Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'nietos' mean 'grandsons' sometimes and 'grandchildren' other times?
This is because in Spanish, the masculine plural form ('nietos') serves two purposes: it refers to a group made up only of boys (grandsons), AND it refers to a mixed group of boys and girls (grandchildren). You figure out the exact meaning from the context.
How do you say 'grandparents'?
The word is 'abuelos'. Just like 'nietos', 'abuelos' can mean 'grandfathers' or the collective group of 'grandparents' (grandfather and grandmother).