How to Say "forebears" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “forebears” is “ancestros” — B1 level.
Examples
Mis ancestros llegaron a este país hace cien años.
My ancestors arrived in this country a hundred years ago.
Es importante conocer la cultura de nuestros ancestros.
It is important to know the culture of our ancestors.
Ella siente una conexión profunda con sus ancestros.
She feels a deep connection with her ancestors.
Always Masculine
Even if you are talking about female relatives in your past, the word 'ancestros' is always masculine. You use 'los' and 'nuestros' with it.
Usually Plural
While 'ancestro' exists, we almost always use this word in the plural because we are usually talking about a whole group of people from the past.
Ancestros vs. Antiguos
Mistake: “Using 'antiguos' to mean ancestors.”
Correction: Use 'ancestros' for family lineage. 'Antiguos' usually refers to 'ancient people' in a general historical sense (like the Ancient Greeks), not your specific family tree.
Related Translations
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