tío
“tío” means “uncle” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
uncle
📝 In Action
Mi tío Juan vive en Madrid.
A1My uncle Juan lives in Madrid.
Voy a visitar a mis tíos este fin de semana.
A2I'm going to visit my aunt and uncle this weekend.
guy
Also: dude, mate
📝 In Action
Oye, tío, ¿qué hora es?
B1Hey dude, what time is it?
Había un tío en la puerta que no conocía.
B1There was some guy at the door whom I didn't know.
¡Qué tío más raro!
B2What a weird guy!
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "tío" in Spanish:
uncle→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tío
Question 1 of 1
Your friend from Spain says, 'Ayer vi a un tío muy alto en la tienda.' What does he most likely mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from Late Latin 'thius', which itself is from the Greek word 'theîos' (θεῖος), meaning 'divine' or 'of the gods'. It was used as a respectful term of address, which eventually narrowed down to mean 'uncle'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'tío' to talk about a woman?
No, 'tío' is masculine. The female equivalent is 'tía'. For the family member, you'd say 'mi tía' (my aunt). For the slang term, you'd say 'esa tía' (that girl/chick), which is also very informal.
Is it rude to call someone 'tío'?
It depends on the context and your relationship. Calling your friend 'tío' is perfectly normal and friendly in Spain. However, calling a stranger, your boss, or an elderly person 'tío' would be too informal and possibly disrespectful.