Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Brother in Spanish: Hermano, Hermanastro, and Slang Alternatives
Hermano · noun (masculine) · er-MAH-noh
Brother in Spanish is hermano (er-MAH-noh). The feminine counterpart is hermana (sister), and the plural hermanos can mean brothers or siblings collectively. Hermanastro is stepbrother, and medio hermano is half-brother. In Mexican slang, carnal is an affectionate term for a close male friend or brother.
er-MAH-noh — three syllables with stress on MAH. The h is always silent in Spanish, so hermano begins with the vowel sound eh. The r is a single tap, not a trill.
Mi hermano mayor me enseñó a andar en bicicleta.
My older brother taught me to ride a bike.
Brother in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for brother, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| hermano | brother | er-MAH-noh | Default, widely understood |
| hermanastro | brother | stepbrother (universal) | |
| medio hermano | brother | half-brother (universal) | |
| carnal | brother | Mexico (slang for bro/brother) |
How Native Speakers Use Hermano
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Introducing a sibling
Te presento a mi hermano menor, Lucas.
Let me introduce you to my younger brother, Lucas.
Mayor means older and menor means younger when referring to siblings. They always follow hermano: hermano mayor, hermana menor.
Siblings collectively
¿Cuántos hermanos tienes?
How many siblings do you have?
Hermanos in the plural can mean brothers or siblings (brothers and sisters combined). Context usually clarifies.
Mexican slang
¡Qué onda, carnal! ¿Cómo has estado?
What's up, bro! How have you been?
Carnal (literally blood-related) is Mexican slang for brother or close friend. It is very informal.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Hermano
Pronouncing the h
Incorrect: Her-MAH-noh (aspirated h)
Correct: er-MAH-noh (silent h)
Unlike English, the letter h carries no sound at all in Spanish — hermano begins with the pure vowel e, not a breathy aspiration. English speakers instinctively push air through the h, which immediately marks the pronunciation as non-native.
Confusing hermano with hermanastro
Incorrect: Tengo un hermano, pero no somos de la misma madre. (ambiguous)
Correct: Tengo un medio hermano — compartimos padre, pero no madre.
Hermano implies a full sibling by default. For half-siblings, use medio hermano (half-brother) or media hermana (half-sister). Hermanastro is for stepsiblings with no biological relationship.
Lock in Brother 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 Hermano used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using hermano in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi hermano mayor me enseñó a andar en bicicleta. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Brother in Spanish
- How do you say brother in Spanish?
- Brother is hermano (er-MAH-noh). The h is silent, and stress falls on the second syllable. The feminine form is hermana (sister), and the plural hermanos can mean brothers or siblings.
- What is the difference between hermano, medio hermano, and hermanastro?
- Hermano is a full brother (same mother and father). Medio hermano is a half-brother (one shared parent). Hermanastro is a stepbrother (no biological relation, connected through a parent's marriage). The same pattern applies to the feminine forms: hermana, media hermana, hermanastra.
- How do you say big brother or little brother in Spanish?
- Big/older brother is hermano mayor. Little/younger brother is hermano menor. Spanish uses mayor (older) and menor (younger) rather than grande and pequeño for sibling age differences, though hermano grande and hermano pequeño are understood informally.