Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Daughter-in-Law in Spanish — Nuera & Family Terms
Nuera · noun · NWEH-rah
Daughter-in-law in Spanish is nuera, a feminine noun (la nuera) that refers to the wife of one's son. Unlike English, which constructs 'daughter-in-law' from three words, Spanish has a single, dedicated term. In legal or very formal contexts, you may also encounter hija política (literally 'political daughter'), but nuera is overwhelmingly preferred in everyday speech.
Nuera is pronounced NWEH-rah in two syllables. The 'nue' forms a diphthong — the 'u' and 'e' blend into one syllable — followed by a soft 'rah.'
Mi nuera preparó una cena deliciosa para toda la familia.
My daughter-in-law prepared a delicious dinner for the whole family.
Daughter-in-Law in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for daughter-in-law, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| nuera | daughter-in-law | NWEH-rah | Default, widely understood |
| hija política | daughter-in-law | formal / legal alternative |
How Native Speakers Use Nuera
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Introducing family
Te presento a mi nuera, María.
Let me introduce you to my daughter-in-law, María.
A family gathering or social introduction.
Talking about family
Nuestra nuera vive en Barcelona con nuestro hijo.
Our daughter-in-law lives in Barcelona with our son.
Describing where family members live.
Formal context
En el documento legal aparece como hija política.
In the legal document she appears as daughter-in-law.
Legal paperwork or formal registration.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Nuera
Translating word-by-word
Incorrect: Mi hija en ley vino a cenar.
Correct: Mi nuera vino a cenar.
Spanish does not translate 'in-law' literally as 'en ley.' The dedicated word nuera is the correct and natural choice.
Confusing nuera with nora
Incorrect: Mi nora es muy amable.
Correct: Mi nuera es muy amable.
Nora is the Catalan and Galician word for daughter-in-law, not standard Spanish. In Castilian Spanish, always use nuera.
Lock in Daughter-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 Nuera used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using nuera in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi nuera preparó una cena deliciosa para toda la familia. 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 Daughter-in-Law in Spanish
- What's the male equivalent of nuera?
- The male equivalent is yerno (son-in-law). So nuera is your son's wife, and yerno is your daughter's husband.
- What does 'hija política' mean exactly?
- Hija política literally means 'political daughter' and is the formal term for daughter-in-law used in legal documents and official contexts. In everyday speech, nuera is far more common and natural.
- How do I say 'mother-in-law' and 'father-in-law' in Spanish?
- Mother-in-law is suegra and father-in-law is suegro. Together, the in-laws are called los suegros. These dedicated terms show how Spanish handles family-by-marriage with single words rather than compound phrases.