Spanish · People & Family

"Mother-in-law" in Spanish: suegra

la suegra

Say it: SWEH-grahfeminine · la suegranoun/ˈswe.ɣɾa/

Mother-in-law is la suegra (SWEH-grah). It is feminine. Your partner's mother is tu suegra, and both parents-in-law are often los suegros.

Kitchen help

Mi suegra prepara el arroz.
My mother-in-law makes the rice.
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How to pronounce suegra

Say it

SWEH-grah

/ˈswe.ɣɾa/

Say SWEH-grah. Stress SWEH. The g is hard before r.

"Mother-in-law" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
la suegramother-in-law

Default feminine form.

mi suegramy mother-in-law

Everyday possessive.

los suegrosparents-in-law

Both in-laws together.

con mi suegrawith my mother-in-law

Visiting or shopping plans.

How to use suegra in real life

  1. 1Kitchen help

    Mi suegra prepara el arroz.

    My mother-in-law makes the rice.

    Home cooking with suegra.

  2. 2Meeting the family

    Esta es mi suegra, Carmen.

    This is my mother-in-law, Carmen.

    Polite intro naming suegra.

  3. 3Weekend plans

    Voy al mercado con mi suegra.

    I'm going to the market with my mother-in-law.

    Errands with suegra.

Mistakes English speakers make with suegra

Incorrect: El suegra cocina bien.

Correct: La suegra cocina bien.

Suegra is feminine. Use la or mi, not el.

Incorrect: Mi mother-in-law vive cerca.

Correct: Mi suegra vive cerca.

Use suegra, not the English words.

Good to know

Suegra is everyday Latin American Spanish. Many learners keep usted with an older suegra until she invites tú.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Choosing a gift

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Qué le gusta a tu suegra?

    What does your mother-in-law like?

  2. You

    A mi suegra le gusta el café.

    My mother-in-law likes coffee.

  3. ChatPal

    Entonces compramos café bueno.

    Then let's buy good coffee.

  4. You

    Perfecto. Gracias por la idea.

    Perfect. Thanks for the idea.

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"Mother-in-law" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Mother-in-law" in Spanish

Is suegra masculine or feminine?

Feminine: la suegra. The masculine pair is el suegro.

How do I say my mother-in-law?

Mi suegra.

How do I say parents-in-law?

Los suegros.

Is stepmother also suegra?

Suegra can blur with stepmother; madrastra is clearer.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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