tías
/TEE-ahs/
aunts
Tías as aunts, the female siblings of a parent.
tías(noun)
aunts
?female siblings of your father or mother
great-aunts
?sometimes used loosely for older female relatives
📝 In Action
Mis tías me dieron muchos regalos por mi cumpleaños.
A1My aunts gave me many gifts for my birthday.
Tengo tres tías: dos por parte de padre y una por parte de madre.
A1I have three aunts: two on my father's side and one on my mother's side.
💡 Grammar Points
Making it Feminine and Plural
This word is the plural form of 'tía' (aunt). We add an 's' because it ends in a vowel, and the 'as' ending tells you we are talking about a group of females.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Talking about a mixed group
Mistake: "Using 'tías' to refer to an aunt and an uncle together."
Correction: In Spanish, if there is even one male in the group, you must use the masculine plural 'tíos' to mean 'aunts and uncles'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Respectful Greeting
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, children may call close female family friends 'tía' (and 'tías' in plural) as a sign of affection and respect, even if they aren't related by blood.
Tías used informally to refer to a group of girls or women.
tías(noun)
girls / women
?informal way of referring to females
,ladies / chicks
?casual address among friends
📝 In Action
¡Oye, tías! ¿Queréis ir al cine esta tarde?
B1Hey, girls! Do you want to go to the movies this afternoon?
Esas tías son muy simpáticas.
B1Those girls are very nice.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'tías' as a Filler Word
In casual conversation, friends often use 'tías' to get each other's attention, similar to how 'guys' or 'ladies' is used in English.
⭐ Usage Tips
Know your audience
This meaning is very common in Spain but might sound strange or overly informal in Latin American countries where 'chicas' or 'muchachas' is preferred.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tías
Question 1 of 2
If you are with one aunt and one uncle, how should you address them together?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tías' disrespectful when used as slang?
It is not exactly disrespectful, but it is very informal. You should use it with friends or people your own age, never in a professional or formal setting.
Can 'tías' mean step-aunts?
Yes, Spanish often uses 'tía' and 'tías' for both biological aunts and the wives of uncles (aunts-in-law) without making a big distinction.