Uncle in Spanish
The Spanish word for 'uncle' is 'tío', pronounced TEE-oh (IPA: /ˈtio/). It is an A1-level masculine noun (plural: tíos).
Pronunciation: TEE-oh
| Spanish | tío |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | TEE-oh · /ˈtio/ |
| Part of speech | noun (masculine) |
| Plural | tíos |
| Level | A1 (beginner-friendly) |
Example Sentences with 'tío'
- Mi tío Carlos me lleva al cine.
My uncle Carlos takes me to the movies. - El tío de Marta trabaja en un banco.
Marta's uncle works in a bank. - Tengo cuatro tíos por parte de mi madre.
I have four uncles on my mother's side. - Mi tío es el hermano menor de mi mamá.
My uncle is my mom's younger brother.
How to Use 'tío'
The plural 'tíos' can mean 'uncles' or 'aunt(s) and uncle(s)' together: 'mis tíos' often refers to an aunt-and-uncle couple. The written accent marks two syllables: TEE-oh.
Regional note: In Spain, 'tío' is everyday slang for 'guy/dude' ('¡Hola, tío!'); this use is not common in Latin America.
Other Ways to Say 'Uncle' and Talk About Family
The Spanish word for uncle is always tío, but the words around it are worth learning together, because they follow the same masculine/feminine pattern:
| uncle / aunt | el tío / la tía |
|---|---|
| my uncle and aunt | mis tíos |
| great-uncle | el tío abuelo |
| uncle by marriage | el tío político |
| nephew / niece | el sobrino / la sobrina |
| cousin | el primo / la prima |
Because Spanish uses the masculine plural for mixed groups, mis tíos normally means “my aunt and uncle”, not “my uncles”. The same logic gives you mis padres (my parents) and mis abuelos (my grandparents). See the full list in our guide to family members in Spanish.
Related Vocabulary
Keep going: review Spanish vocabulary guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
'Uncle' in Spanish is 'tío', pronounced TEE-oh.
It is spelled t-í-o.
'Tío' is masculine: you say 'el tío'.
The plural of 'tío' is 'tíos'.
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