How do you say nephew in Spanish?

Nephew in Spanish is sobrino (masculine, el sobrino, mi sobrino). Niece is sobrina. The plural sobrinos covers any mixed-gender group of siblings' kids. The word is universal across all Spanish-speaking countries.

How do you pronounce sobrino?

Sobrino is pronounced soh-BREE-noh, three syllables, stressed on the second. The b is soft (close to a Spanish v), the o at the end is short and clean, not the English oh.

When do you use sobrino in conversation?

Use it any time you'd say nephew in English: introducing family, talking about plans, or describing who's coming to a party. In Spanish-speaking cultures, sobrinos come up much more often than you'd expect from English usage; extended family is much more present in daily life.

How do I remember nephew in Spanish?

Watch family vlogs and conversations from native creators. Parrot's videos include scenes of birthdays, family weekends, and introductions where sobrino comes up naturally, so the word lands with the relationship instead of as a flashcard term.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Nephew in Spanish: Sobrino, Sobrina, and How to Talk About Your Whole Family

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Sobrino · noun (masculine) · soh-BREE-noh

Nephew in Spanish is sobrino (el sobrino, mi sobrino), a masculine noun. Niece is sobrina. Sobrinos covers a mixed-gender group of nephews and nieces. The word is universal, used the same way in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and everywhere in between.

Sobrino is pronounced soh-BREE-noh, three syllables, stressed on BREE. The b is soft, almost a v. The o at the end is a clean Spanish o, not the English oh diphthong.

Mi sobrino tiene cinco años.

My nephew is five years old.

Nephew in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for nephew, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
sobrino	nephew	soh-BREE-noh	Default, widely understood
sobrina	nephew		feminine, niece
sobrinos	nephew		plural, nephews and nieces (mixed)
sobrinitos	nephew		diminutive, affectionate, little nephews

How Native Speakers Use Sobrino

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Introducing your nephew

Te presento a mi sobrino, Mateo.

Let me introduce you to my nephew, Mateo.

Default introduction phrasing. Te presento a + person is the natural Spanish for let me introduce you to.

Talking about a niece and a nephew together

Tengo dos sobrinos: una sobrina y un sobrino.

I have two nephews-and-nieces: a niece and a nephew.

Sobrinos as the catch-all plural for any mixed group of siblings' kids. Spanish doesn't have a separate gender-neutral word.

Affectionate diminutive

Mis sobrinitos vienen este fin de semana.

My little nephews and nieces are coming this weekend.

Sobrinitos / sobrinitas adds warmth. Common when talking about young children in your extended family.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sobrino

Using nephew-borrowed nefeu / nefew

Incorrect: Mi nefew se llama Mateo.

Correct: Mi sobrino se llama Mateo.

Sobrino is the only correct Spanish word. English speakers sometimes try to Spanish-ify nephew on the fly, but it just sounds confused.

Using sobrino for a great-nephew without specifying

Incorrect: Mi sobrino tiene 60 años.

Correct: Mi sobrino-nieto tiene 60 años. (Or: Mi resobrino tiene 60 años.)

Sobrino is your sibling's child specifically. Your sibling's grandchild is sobrino-nieto (or resobrino in some places). Specify when the generation matters.

Why Nephew Matters in Spanish-Speaking Cultures

Extended family is central in Spanish-speaking cultures

In most Spanish-speaking cultures, sobrinos are part of the everyday inner circle, not just relatives you see at holidays. Tios and tías (uncles and aunts) often play a quasi-parental role; godparents (padrinos / madrinas) carry weight; and family parties routinely span all four generations. So sobrino is a high-frequency word in real conversation, not a once-in-a-while term the way it sometimes feels in English.

Affectionate diminutives matter

Adding -ito / -ita to family words (sobrinito, abuelita, hermanita) signals warmth and closeness. It's not strictly about size or age, it's an emotional softener. A 30-year-old can still be sobrinito to a doting aunt. Picking up the diminutive habit is one of the fastest ways to sound more native in family conversations.

Lock in Nephew 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 Sobrino used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sobrino in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi sobrino tiene cinco años. 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 Nephew in Spanish

How do you say nephew in Spanish?: Nephew in Spanish is sobrino (masculine, el sobrino, mi sobrino). Niece is sobrina. The plural sobrinos covers any mixed-gender group of siblings' kids. The word is universal across all Spanish-speaking countries.
How do you pronounce sobrino?: Sobrino is pronounced soh-BREE-noh, three syllables, stressed on the second. The b is soft (close to a Spanish v), the o at the end is short and clean, not the English oh.
When do you use sobrino in conversation?: Use it any time you'd say nephew in English: introducing family, talking about plans, or describing who's coming to a party. In Spanish-speaking cultures, sobrinos come up much more often than you'd expect from English usage; extended family is much more present in daily life.
How do I remember nephew in Spanish?: Watch family vlogs and conversations from native creators. Parrot's videos include scenes of birthdays, family weekends, and introductions where sobrino comes up naturally, so the word lands with the relationship instead of as a flashcard term.