La familia extendida
Topic-driven lesson: family relationships beyond 'mom-dad-brother-sister'. Spanish family terms are nicely systematic. Many pairs are built on a single -o/-a pair (tío/tía, primo/prima), and in-laws follow predictable patterns (suegro = father-in-law, cuñado = brother-in-law).
Grandparents and grandchildren
el abuelo (grandfather), la abuela (grandmother), los abuelos (grandparents — both, or grandfathers in plural). el nieto (grandson), la nieta (granddaughter), los nietos (grandchildren). Mis abuelos viven en el campo = my grandparents live in the countryside.
Aunts, uncles, nieces/nephews, cousins
el tío / la tía (uncle/aunt). el sobrino / la sobrina (nephew/niece). el primo / la prima (cousin). los primos = cousins (any gender). Spanish has ONE word primo/prima, regardless of degree of cousinship. Standard: mi prima Ana = my cousin Ana.
In-laws
el suegro / la suegra (father-in-law / mother-in-law — one word for either). los suegros (parents-in-law). el yerno (son-in-law — daughter's husband). la nuera (daughter-in-law — son's wife). el cuñado / la cuñada (brother-in-law / sister-in-law — any sibling-by-marriage).
Spouses and partners
el marido = la esposa (husband / wife) — also los esposos (spouses). la mujer = wife (colloquial), and also 'woman'. el novio / la novia = boyfriend / girlfriend or groom / bride (at a wedding). la pareja = partner / couple (any gender; neutral term for serious relationships). Getting married: casarse con (to marry someone). Se casó con Pablo = she married Pablo.
Children and status
los hijos = children (sons and daughters). el hijo único / la hija única = only child. estar embarazada = to be pregnant (DON'T confuse with 'embarrassed' — that's avergonzada). adoptar = to adopt. el bebé / la bebé = baby. Mi hermana está embarazada = my sister is pregnant.
Useful templates
Es mi… (this is my…), Se llama… (his/her name is…), Tiene X años (he/she is X years old), Es mayor / menor que yo (older/younger than me), Vive en… (lives in…), Trabaja de… (works as…), Está casado con… (is married to…), No me llevo bien con… (I don't get along with…). These building blocks combine into any family story.
