pariente
“pariente” means “relative” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
relativeAlso: relation
📝 In Action
Todos mis parientes vendrán a la boda.
A1All my relatives will come to the wedding.
Ella es mi pariente favorita; siempre me da buenos consejos.
A2She is my favorite relative; she always gives me good advice.
No tengo muchos parientes en esta ciudad, solo mis padres.
A1I don't have many relatives in this city, only my parents.
Word Connections
relatedAlso: akin
📝 In Action
La crisis económica es pariente de la inestabilidad política.
B1The economic crisis is related to political instability.
Estos dos idiomas son parientes cercanos, por eso se parecen tanto.
B2These two languages are close relatives (related), that's why they are so similar.
Word Connections
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pariente
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'parientes'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The word comes from the Latin term *parens*, which meant 'parent' or 'one who gives birth.' In Spanish, the meaning broadened over time to refer not just to immediate parents, but to any person belonging to the same family group.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'pariente' be used to mean 'parent' (mother or father)?
While the Latin root meant 'parent,' in modern Spanish, 'pariente' almost exclusively means 'relative' (aunt, cousin, grandparent, etc.). You should always use 'padres' for 'parents' (mother and father).
Does 'pariente' change its ending for gender?
No. The word itself stays 'pariente' regardless of gender. Only the article changes: 'el pariente' (male relative) and 'la pariente' (female relative).