parientes
pah-RYEN-tehs
📝 In Action
Todos mis parientes vinieron a la boda de mi hermana.
A1All my relatives came to my sister's wedding.
No tengo muchos parientes que vivan en esta ciudad.
A2I don't have many family members who live in this city.
Ella fue a visitar a sus parientes lejanos en el campo.
B1She went to visit her distant relations in the countryside.
💡 Grammar Points
The Singular Form
This word is the plural of 'pariente' (a relative). If you talk about just one person, use 'un pariente' (for a male relative) or 'una pariente' (for a female relative).
Masculine Plural for Mixed Groups
Even if the group of relatives includes women, the plural noun 'parientes' remains grammatically masculine, which is common in Spanish when referring to mixed-gender groups.
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Friend: Parents
Mistake: "Using 'parientes' when you mean 'parents'."
Correction: While they look similar to the English word 'parents,' 'parientes' means 'relatives' generally (aunts, cousins, grandparents). The word for 'parents' (mother and father) is 'padres'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Mis'
When talking about your own family, you will almost always use the plural possessive adjective 'mis' (my): 'mis parientes' (my relatives).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: parientes
Question 1 of 2
If you want to say 'my mother and father' in Spanish, which word should you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'parientes' the same as 'familiares'?
They are very close synonyms! 'Familiares' usually emphasizes the immediate family, while 'parientes' can include more distant relations, like second cousins. However, in everyday conversation, they are often used interchangeably to mean 'relatives'.
Can 'parientes' refer only to women?
Yes, but the word itself is grammatically masculine. If you are talking about a group of relatives who are all women (e.g., three aunts), you still use 'mis parientes' or 'las parientes' (the female relatives), keeping the noun masculine but using the feminine article if you specify the gender.