Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Brother-in-Law in Spanish: Cuñado and In-Law Vocabulary
Cuñado · noun (masculine) · koo-NYAH-doh
Brother-in-law in Spanish is cuñado (koo-NYAH-doh). It applies whether the person is your spouse's brother or your sibling's husband. The formal equivalent hermano político exists mainly in legal or official texts. The feminine counterpart is cuñada (sister-in-law), and the plural cuñados can refer to a mixed group of in-law siblings.
Cuñado is koo-NYAH-doh, three syllables, stress on NYAH. The ñ produces the palatal nasal sound, like the ny in 'canyon.' The final -o marks it as masculine.
Mi cuñado me ayudó a mudarme el fin de semana pasado.
My brother-in-law helped me move last weekend.
Brother in Law in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for brother in law, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cuñado | brother in law | koo-NYAH-doh | Default, widely understood |
| hermano político | brother in law | Formal/legal registers |
How Native Speakers Use Cuñado
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Spouse's brother
Mi cuñado cocina mejor que cualquier chef profesional.
My brother-in-law cooks better than any professional chef.
Cuñado here refers to the speaker's spouse's brother.
Sibling's husband
El cuñado de Laura la llevó al aeropuerto a las cinco de la mañana.
Laura's brother-in-law drove her to the airport at five in the morning.
In this case cuñado is the husband of Laura's sister.
Plural (mixed group)
Mis cuñados organizaron una barbacoa para mi cumpleaños.
My brothers- and sisters-in-law organized a barbecue for my birthday.
Cuñados in the plural can refer to all your spouse's siblings or all your siblings' spouses, regardless of gender (mixed-gender default is masculine plural).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cuñado
Literal word-for-word translation
Incorrect: Mi hermano en ley me visitó.
Correct: Mi cuñado me visitó.
There is no word-for-word equivalent of 'in-law' in Spanish — every in-law relationship gets its own standalone noun: cuñado (brother-in-law), suegro (father-in-law), yerno (son-in-law), nuera (daughter-in-law).
Using feminine form for a male
Incorrect: Mi cuñada es ingeniero.
Correct: Mi cuñado es ingeniero.
Cuñada is the feminine form (sister-in-law). For a male in-law sibling, always use cuñado. The -o ending marks masculine gender.
Lock in Brother in Law Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Cuñado used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cuñado in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi cuñado me ayudó a mudarme el fin de semana pasado. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Brother in Law in Spanish
- How do you say brother-in-law in Spanish?
- Brother-in-law in Spanish is cuñado (koo-NYAH-doh). It covers both senses: the brother of your spouse and the husband of your sibling.
- What are all the in-law terms in Spanish?
- The main in-law terms are: suegro/suegra (father/mother-in-law), yerno (son-in-law), nuera (daughter-in-law), cuñado/cuñada (brother/sister-in-law), and consuegro/consuegra (your child's spouse's parent). Each has its own word; Spanish does not use an 'in-law' suffix.
- Can cuñados refer to a mixed group?
- The masculine plural cuñados covers both an all-male group of brothers-in-law and a mixed group that includes sisters-in-law. This follows the standard Spanish convention where the masculine plural encompasses mixed-gender groups.