Spanish · People & Family
"Uncle" in Spanish: tío
el tío
Uncle in Spanish is el tío (TEE-oh). It is masculine: mi tío, un tío. The plural is los tíos.
Family dinner
Mi tío trae el postre.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tío
Say it
TEE-oh
/ˈti.o/
TEE-oh for tío. Stress TEE. Written accent on í.
"Uncle" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el tío | the uncle Default with the article. | Default with the article. |
| mi tío | my uncle Talking about your uncle. | Talking about your uncle. |
| un tío | an uncle Introducing the relationship. | Introducing the relationship. |
| los tíos | the uncles / aunt and uncle Plural; also aunt-and-uncle pair in some talk. | Plural; also aunt-and-uncle pair in some talk. |
How to use tío in real life
- 1Family dinner
Mi tío trae el postre.
My uncle is bringing dessert.
Mi tío for your uncle.
- 2On the phone
¿Habla el tío Carlos hoy?
Is Uncle Carlos calling today?
El tío plus a name.
- 3Travel plans
Voy con mi tío al aeropuerto.
I’m going to the airport with my uncle.
Mi tío in a plan.
Mistakes English speakers make with tío
Incorrect: La tío vive cerca.
Correct: El tío vive cerca.
Tío is masculine. Use el or mi, not la.
Incorrect: Mi tio sin acento.
Correct: Mi tío.
Keep the written accent: tío, not tio.
Good to know
Tío is the everyday word for a parent’s brother or an uncle by marriage. In Spain, tío can also mean “dude” among friends; Latin American learners should stick to the family meaning first.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arranging a ride
ChatPal
¿Puede llevarnos tu tío?
Can your uncle give us a ride?
You
Sí. Mi tío sale a las cinco.
Yes. My uncle leaves at five.
ChatPal
Perfecto, gracias.
Perfect, thanks.
You
Yo le aviso ahora.
I’ll let him know now.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Uncle" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Uncle" in Spanish
Is tío masculine?
Yes: el tío, mi tío, los tíos.
Do I need the accent?
Yes. Write tío with an accent on í.
What is the feminine form?
La tía for aunt.
How do you pronounce tío?
TEE-oh. Stress TEE.
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
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