Spanish · People & Family

"Brother" in Spanish: hermano

el hermano

Say it: ehr-MAH-nohmasculine · el hermanonoun/eɾˈmano/

Brother in Spanish is el hermano. It is masculine. Say mi hermano for my brother. Hermana is the sister form.

Family size

Tengo un hermano y una hermana.
I have one brother and one sister.
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How to pronounce hermano

Say it

ehr-MAH-noh

/eɾˈmano/

ehr-MAH-noh. Stress mah. The h is silent.

"Brother" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
el hermanobrother

A male sibling.

mi hermanomy brother

Everyday possessive.

hermanossiblings / brothers

Can mean brothers or mixed siblings.

hermano mayor / menorolder / younger brother

Common age labels.

How to use hermano in real life

  1. 1Family size

    Tengo un hermano y una hermana.

    I have one brother and one sister.

    Hermano for the brother; hermana for the sister.

  2. 2At a party

    Mi hermano trae la música.

    My brother is bringing the music.

    Mi hermano is the default phrase.

  3. 3Comparing ages

    Mi hermano mayor vive solo.

    My older brother lives alone.

    Hermano mayor = older brother.

Mistakes English speakers make with hermano

Incorrect: La hermano es alto.

Correct: El hermano es alto.

Hermano is masculine. Use el hermano, mi hermano.

Incorrect: Mis hermano son gemelos.

Correct: Mis hermanos son gemelos.

Plural needs -s: hermanos. Keep the stem hermano.

Good to know

Hermanos can mean "brothers" or "siblings" as a group. If you need only sisters, say hermanas.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Explaining who is in a photo

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Ese es tu hermano?

    Is that your brother?

  2. You

    Sí, es mi hermano menor.

    Yes, he's my younger brother.

  3. ChatPal

    Se parecen mucho.

    You look a lot alike.

  4. You

    Todos dicen eso de mi hermano.

    Everyone says that about my brother.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Brother" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Brother" in Spanish

Is hermano masculine or feminine?

Masculine: el hermano. Feminine sibling is la hermana.

What does hermanos mean?

Brothers, or siblings as a mixed group.

How do I say older brother?

Hermano mayor. Younger is hermano menor.

How do I pronounce hermano?

ehr-MAH-noh. Silent h, stress on mah.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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