How to Say "parents" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “parents” is “padres” — this is the most common and neutral term for 'parents' (mother and father) and can be used in almost any situation..
padres
/PA-dray//ˈpa.dɾe/
Examples
Mis padres están muy orgullosos de mí.
My parents are very proud of me.
Mi padre es profesor.
My father is a teacher.
Voy a visitar a mis padres este fin de semana.
I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.
Él es un buen padre de familia.
He is a good family man.
The Plural Means 'Parents'
The plural form 'los padres' usually means 'the parents' (one father and one mother). To talk about two or more fathers, you would also say 'los padres,' and the situation would tell you what it means.
Confusing Singular and Plural
Mistake: “To talk about your parents, you might say, 'Mi padre están en casa.'”
Correction: Always use the plural form: 'Mis padres están en casa.' Remember, 'padres' covers both of them!
papás
/pa-PASS//paˈpas/
Examples
Voy a cenar con mis papás esta noche.
I'm going to have dinner with my parents tonight.
Mis papás viven en Madrid.
My parents live in Madrid.
¿A qué hora llegan tus papás?
What time are your parents arriving?
Hoy es la reunión para los papás del colegio.
Today is the meeting for the school's dads.
The 'Masculine' Default
In Spanish, if you have a group of people with at least one male, the whole group uses the masculine ending. That's why 'papás' (masculine) means both 'dads' and a mix of 'mom and dad'.
Missing the Accent
Mistake: “Mis papas son simpáticos.”
Correction: Mis papás son simpáticos.
papas
PAH-pahs/ˈpa.pas/
Examples
Mis papas me dieron dinero para el viaje.
My parents gave me money for the trip.
Tengo que ir a visitar a mis papas este fin de semana.
I have to go visit my parents this weekend.
Mis papas me regalaron un coche nuevo.
My mom and dad (parents) gave me a new car.
Gender and Group Nouns
Even though 'papas' refers to both mother and father, the word itself is plural feminine, but it functions as a common way to refer to the male/female pair (just like 'padres' is masculine plural).
Formal Situations
Mistake: “Using 'mis papas' in a formal meeting or written essay.”
Correction: Use 'mis padres' instead. 'Papas' is reserved for casual conversation.
viejos
VYAY-hoss/ˈbje.xos/
Examples
¿Qué dicen mis viejos?
What do my folks say?
El gobierno debería cuidar mejor a los viejos.
The government should take better care of the elderly.
¿Vas a visitar a tus viejos este fin de semana?
Are you going to visit your parents this weekend?
Cuando mis viejos se mudaron, me quedé con la casa.
When my folks moved out, I kept the house.
The Masculine Plural Rule
In Spanish, the masculine plural form ('viejos') is often used to talk about a group of people that includes both males and females (e.g., 'mis viejos' means both mother and father).
Confusing Noun/Adjective
Mistake: “Using 'viejos' as a noun when you are trying to describe an object, e.g., 'Mi coche es viejos'.”
Correction: If describing one thing, use the singular adjective: 'Mi coche es viejo'.
Confusing 'Padres' and 'Papás'
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.