Meeting new people often starts with simple, friendly talk about family. In this lesson, you’ll learn easy Spanish words and phrases to introduce your family, say who you have (parents, siblings, children), talk about names and ages, and make small talk. We’ll practice with short examples and quick exercises so you can use them right away.

Core family words you’ll use right away

Start simple. These are the most common words you’ll need to talk about your family. Notice the masculine/feminine pairs.

Quick note

• Spanish often uses gendered words: hermano (brother), hermana (sister). If you mean siblings in general, you can say “hermanos” (brothers/siblings).
• “Padres” means “parents.” Don’t confuse it with “parientes,” which means “relatives.”

Saying who you have: I have… I don’t have…

Use the verb “tener” (to have) to talk about family members you have.

• “Tengo…” = I have…
• “No tengo…” = I don’t have…
• “¿Tienes…?” = Do you have…?

Add numbers for how many:

• uno/una (one), dos (two), tres (three)

Examples:

Tengo hermanas.

Helpful patterns

• Use “un” (masculine) or “una” (feminine) for one: “un hermano,” “una hermana.”
• Keep it short and clear at A1: “Tengo dos hermanas” works great!

Names and ages: Se llama… / Tiene … años

To give a name, use “se llama” (is called):

• “Mi madre se llama Ana.” = My mother’s name is Ana.
• “¿Cómo se llama tu padre?” = What is your father’s name?

To give age, use “tener” + “años”:

• “Tiene 50 años.” = He/She is 50 years old.
• “¿Cuántos años tiene?” = How old is he/she?

Possession with “mi/mis, tu/tus, su/sus”

These short words (possessive adjectives) show who someone belongs to.

• mi (my, singular) / mis (my, plural)
• tu (your, singular) / tus (your, plural)
• su (his/her/your-formal, singular) / sus (plural)

Examples:

madre se llama Ana.

Mis madre es doctora. → Mi madre es doctora. Use “mi” (singular) for one mother. “Mis” is for plural nouns.

Describing a little: “ser” for descriptions, “tener” for possession

Keep this simple at A1:

• Use “ser” (to be) for descriptions: “Mi padre es alto.” (My father is tall.)
• Use “tener” (to have) for possession/how many: “Tengo dos hermanos.” (I have two siblings.)

More examples:

Extra words you may hear

These are common relatives beyond immediate family:

Cultural note

• “La familia” in Spanish can feel very broad: immediate family, extended family, and even close family friends. Small talk about family is common and friendly.
• The word “familia” is singular: “La familia es grande.” (The family is big.) Don’t say “La familia son….” at A1.

No hermanos.

Mini-practice: put it together

Try saying a few sentences about yourself:

• “Mi familia es pequeña.” (My family is small.)
• “Tengo un hermano y una hermana.” (I have one brother and one sister.)
• “Mi madre se llama Ana.” (My mother’s name is Ana.)
• “Mi padre tiene 50 años.” (My father is 50 years old.)

You can also ask:

• “¿Tienes hermanos?” (Do you have siblings?)
• “¿Cómo se llama tu madre?” (What is your mother’s name?)
• “¿Cuántos años tiene tu padre?” (How old is your father?)

Wrap-up

You now have the essential building blocks to talk about family at a friendly, beginner level. Focus on:

• “tener” for what you have and ages
• “mi/mis, tu/tus, su/sus” for possession
• core family words you’ll use in everyday conversation

Keep practicing with short sentences. Share a few facts about your family with a friend or tutor. You’ve got this — ¡vamos!