Inklingo

How to Say "younger" in Spanish

English → Spanish

menor

/meh-NOR//meˈnoɾ/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'menor' when referring to one person who is younger in age compared to another.
A tall adult human figure holding the hand of a very small child walking on a path, illustrating a difference in age.

Examples

Mi hermano menor tiene veinte años.

My younger brother is twenty years old.

Ellos son mucho menores que nosotros.

They are much younger than us.

Standard Age Comparison

While 'más joven' is grammatically correct, 'menor' is the much more natural and common way to talk about a younger sibling or person.

menores

meh-NOH-rehs/meˈnoɾes/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'menores' when referring to multiple people who are younger in age compared to others.
A tall adult person smiling while holding hands with a much shorter, younger child.

Examples

Mis primas menores todavía están en la universidad.

My younger cousins are still in college.

Los jugadores menores de 20 años entrenan aparte.

The players younger than 20 train separately.

Saying 'Younger'

Mistake: “Using 'más jóvenes' to mean 'younger siblings'.”

Correction: Use 'hermanos menores'. 'Menor' is the natural, single-word way to express 'younger' in Spanish when comparing age.

pequeño

adjectiveA2general
Use 'pequeño' when referring to a younger sibling, emphasizing their position as the 'little one' in the family.

Examples

Mi hermano pequeño se llama Carlos.

My younger brother is named Carlos.

Menor vs. Pequeño for siblings

Learners often confuse 'menor' and 'pequeño' when talking about siblings. While 'menor' simply states an age difference, 'pequeño' carries a connotation of being the 'little' or youngest sibling, often used endearingly.

Related Translations

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