How do you say 'siblings' in Spanish?

The word is hermanos, which functions as both brothers and siblings depending on context. When you say tengo dos hermanos, it could mean two brothers or two siblings — Spanish speakers typically clarify if the distinction matters.

Is there a gender-neutral word for sibling in Spanish?

Traditional Spanish uses hermanos (masculine plural) as the gender-inclusive default for mixed groups. Some inclusive language advocates use hermanes with the gender-neutral -e ending, but this form is not yet part of standard Spanish grammar.

How do you say 'only child' in Spanish?

An only child is hijo único (male) or hija única (female). The question ¿tienes hermanos? (do you have siblings?) answered with no, soy hijo único effectively communicates that you have no siblings.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Siblings in Spanish: Hermanos

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

Hermanos · noun (masculine plural) · ehr-MAH-nohs

Hermanos is the Spanish word for siblings, covering brothers, sisters, or any mixed-gender group. Spanish lacks a gender-neutral singular equivalent of sibling — you must specify hermano (brother) or hermana (sister) individually, though the plural hermanos serves as the inclusive term.

ehr-MAH-nohs

Tengo tres hermanos: dos hermanas y un hermano.

I have three siblings: two sisters and one brother.

Siblings in Spanish: Quick Reference

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

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
hermanos	siblings	ehr-MAH-nohs	Default, widely understood
hermanas	siblings		sisters specifically (all female)

How Native Speakers Use Hermanos

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

Family size

Somos cinco hermanos en total, tres mujeres y dos hombres.

There are five siblings of us in total, three women and two men.

Describing family composition.

Close bond

Mis hermanos y yo somos muy unidos desde pequeños.

My siblings and I have been very close since childhood.

Describing family bonds.

All sisters

Todas mis hermanas estudian en la misma universidad.

All my sisters study at the same university.

Hermanas when all siblings are female.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Hermanos

Answering the question incorrectly

Incorrect: Tengo tres hermanos. (meaning 3 brothers when you have siblings)

Correct: Tengo tres hermanos: dos hermanas y un hermano.

Hermanos in plural can mean either brothers or siblings — to avoid ambiguity when answering, speakers often clarify the gender breakdown because the listener cannot tell if you mean three brothers or three siblings total.

Using siblingos

Incorrect: Tengo muchos siblingos.

Correct: Tengo muchos hermanos.

There is no Spanish word siblingos — the English concept of sibling maps directly to hermano/hermana, and the plural hermanos already covers mixed-gender groups.

Lock in Siblings 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 Hermanos used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using hermanos in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Tengo tres hermanos: dos hermanas y un hermano. 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 Siblings in Spanish

How do you say 'siblings' in Spanish?: The word is hermanos, which functions as both brothers and siblings depending on context. When you say tengo dos hermanos, it could mean two brothers or two siblings — Spanish speakers typically clarify if the distinction matters.
Is there a gender-neutral word for sibling in Spanish?: Traditional Spanish uses hermanos (masculine plural) as the gender-inclusive default for mixed groups. Some inclusive language advocates use hermanes with the gender-neutral -e ending, but this form is not yet part of standard Spanish grammar.
How do you say 'only child' in Spanish?: An only child is hijo único (male) or hija única (female). The question ¿tienes hermanos? (do you have siblings?) answered with no, soy hijo único effectively communicates that you have no siblings.