Inklingo

How to Say "households" in Spanish

English → Spanish

familias

/fah-MEE-lyahs//faˈmiljas/

nounA1general
Use 'familias' when referring to the group of people who live together in one house, emphasizing the family unit.
A diverse family unit consisting of two parents and two children standing together and smiling happily in an outdoor setting.

Examples

Hay muchas familias grandes en mi barrio.

There are many large families in my neighborhood.

Las familias se reúnen para celebrar la Navidad.

The families gather to celebrate Christmas.

Queremos ayudar a las familias afectadas por la tormenta.

We want to help the families affected by the storm.

Feminine Plural

Since 'familia' is feminine, its plural form 'familias' must use feminine articles and adjectives, like 'las familias' (the families) or 'muchas familias' (many families).

Using 'el' instead of 'la'

Mistake: “Los familias son importantes.”

Correction: Las familias son importantes. The word 'familia' is always treated as feminine, even though it refers to both men and women.

hogares

/oh-GAH-rehs//oˈɡaɾes/

nounA2general
Use 'hogares' when referring to a household as a social or statistical unit, often in contexts discussing living arrangements or demographics.
A cozy house with a red roof, a small garden, and a blue door.

Examples

Muchos hogares tienen un perro como mascota.

Many homes have a dog as a pet.

El gobierno quiere ayudar a los hogares con pocos recursos.

The government wants to help low-income households.

En navidad, los hogares se llenan de luces y alegría.

At Christmas, homes are filled with lights and joy.

Making it Plural

Since the word 'hogar' ends in a consonant (r), we add '-es' to make it plural: 'hogares'.

Casa vs. Hogar

Use 'casas' for the physical buildings and 'hogares' for the emotional concept of 'home' or the people inside.

The 'H' is Silent

Mistake: “Pronouncing the 'h' like an English 'h'.”

Correction: In Spanish, the 'h' is always silent. Start the word with the 'o' sound: /oh-GAH-rehs/.

Familias vs. Hogares

The most common mistake is using 'familias' when 'hogares' is more appropriate for statistical or general references to living units. Remember, 'familias' specifically implies a family structure, while 'hogares' is broader and can include any group of people living together as a unit.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.