Portuguese · People & Family
"Aunt" in Portuguese: tia
a tia
Aunt in Portuguese is a tia. Plural is as tias. Brazilian kids often call close family friends tia as a warm title.
Family lunch
Minha tia trouxe a sobremesa favorita.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tia
Say it
CHEE-ah
/ˈtʃia/
CHEE-ah — t before i often sounds like ch in Brazil.
"Aunt" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| a tia | the aunt Default noun. | Default noun. |
| minhas tias | my aunts Plural. | Plural. |
| tia-avó | great-aunt Extended family. | Extended family. |
| oi, tia | hi, aunt Addressing her. | Addressing her. |
How to use tia in real life
- 1Family lunch
Minha tia trouxe a sobremesa favorita.
My aunt brought the favorite dessert.
Minha tia possessive.
- 2Phone call
Oi, tia! Cheguei mais cedo.
Hi, aunt! I arrived earlier.
Tia as address.
- 3Childcare
A tia busca as crianças na escola hoje.
Aunt is picking the kids up from school today.
Role in the family schedule.
Mistakes English speakers make with tia
Incorrect: O tia chegou.
Correct: A tia chegou.
Tia is feminine: a tia.
Incorrect: Minha aunt mora longe.
Correct: Minha tia mora longe.
Use tia, not English aunt.
Good to know
Like tio, tia stretches beyond blood relatives in Brazil—teachers and neighbors may be called tia by children. It signals warmth and respect in that setting.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a surprise for an aunt's birthday
ChatPal
Sua tia gosta mais de flores ou de bolo?
Does your aunt like flowers or cake more?
You
Bolo. A tia detesta flores fortes.
Cake. Aunt hates strong-smelling flowers.
ChatPal
Então encomendamos o bolo que a tia ama.
Then we'll order the cake aunt loves.
You
Isso. A tia vai chorar de emoção.
Yes. Aunt will cry with emotion.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Aunt" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Aunt" in Portuguese
Do kids call non-relatives tia?
Often yes, especially teachers and neighbors.
How do I say great-aunt?
Tia-avó.
What is the plural?
As tias.
Is tia feminine?
Yes: a tia.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
