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How to Say "brother" in Spanish

English → Spanish

hermano

/er-MAH-no//eɾˈmano/

nounA1general
Use 'hermano' for a male sibling who shares the same parents, or more broadly, for a fellow member of a religious community.
Two happy young boys smiling and holding hands in a sunny field.

Examples

Mi hermano vive en Madrid.

My brother lives in Madrid.

Mi hermano se llama Carlos.

My brother's name is Carlos.

Tengo dos hermanos y una hermana.

I have two brothers and one sister.

En total, somos cuatro hermanos en mi familia.

In total, we are four siblings in my family.

One Word for 'Siblings'

In Spanish, if you have one brother and one sister, you say 'Tengo dos hermanos.' The masculine plural form 'hermanos' is used for a group of all brothers, or a mixed group of brothers and sisters.

Using 'el' and 'un'

Since 'hermano' is a masculine word, you'll use masculine articles with it, like 'el hermano' (the brother) and 'un hermano' (a brother).

Forgetting the Mixed-Group Rule

Mistake: “If you have a brother and a sister, you might say 'Tengo un hermano y una hermana.' While correct, if you want to say 'I have two siblings,' you need the masculine plural.”

Correction: Say 'Tengo dos hermanos' to mean 'I have two siblings' (one boy, one girl). Don't use 'hermanas' unless the group is all female.

Mixing Formality

Mistake: “Using the informal 'hermano' (bro) in a situation that requires formality.”

Correction: Pay attention to context. Addressing a stranger or a superior as 'hermano' can be seen as overly familiar or disrespectful. Stick to 'señor' or 'usted' in formal settings.

brother

/bro-der//ˈbɾoðeɾ/

nounA2informal
Use the English loanword 'brother' informally, often among younger speakers or in casual conversation, to refer to a male sibling.
Two young boys who look alike sitting together on a wooden bench, one with his arm around the other.

Examples

Mi brother va a la universidad.

My brother is going to university.

Mi brother vive en Estados Unidos.

My brother lives in the United States.

Tengo dos brothers y una hermana.

I have two brothers and one sister.

Ese es el carro de mi brother.

That is my brother's car.

Possession with 'de'

In Spanish, you can't say 'brother's'. You must say 'de mi brother' (of my brother).

Plurals

To make it plural, just add an 's' like in English: 'mis brothers'.

Relying on English

Mistake: “Using 'brother' for your sibling in a school essay.”

Correction: Always use 'hermano' in writing or formal speech; 'brother' is purely conversational.

fray

/f-rye//fɾai/

nounB2formal, religious
Use 'fray' as a formal title for a friar, a member of certain religious orders, preceding their given name.
A friendly friar in a brown hooded robe standing in a peaceful garden.

Examples

Fray Luis de León fue un poeta importante.

Friar Luis de León was an important poet.

Fray Bartolomé de las Casas fue un defensor de los derechos humanos.

Friar Bartolomé de las Casas was a defender of human rights.

¿Conoces la historia de fray Junípero Serra?

Do you know the story of Brother Junípero Serra?

El cuadro muestra a fray Luis de León escribiendo en su celda.

The painting shows Friar Luis de León writing in his cell.

A Special Title

'Fray' is a shortened version of the word 'fraile' (friar). You only use 'fray' when it is immediately followed by a person's first name.

Always Masculine

This word refers specifically to men in religious orders, so it is always masculine.

Don't use it alone

Mistake: “El fray caminaba por el jardín.”

Correction: El fraile caminaba por el jardín.

Confusing 'Hermano' with 'Fray'

The most common mistake is using 'fray' when you simply mean a male sibling. Remember, 'fray' is exclusively for religious friars. For any other male sibling, even in a religious context like a monk, 'hermano' is the correct and more general term.

Related Translations

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