VOCABULARY
Family Members in Portuguese: Vocabulary and Culture
Talk about parents, siblings, in-laws, and extended family — plus the cultural role family plays in Portuguese-speaking countries.
Family is one of the first topics that comes up in any real conversation. Here's the vocabulary you need to describe yours accurately, in both genders.
Quick Takeaways
- Most family words change with gender: filho / filha, tio / tia.
- "Meio-irmão" and "meia-irmã" mean half-brother and half-sister.
- In-laws use "sogro/sogra," "cunhado/cunhada," and "genro/nora."
- Family gatherings are central to Brazilian and Portuguese culture — this vocabulary gets used constantly.
Immediate Family
| English | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| Father / Mother | pai | mãe |
| Son / Daughter | filho | filha |
| Brother / Sister | irmão | irmã |
| Grandfather / Grandmother | avô | avó |
| Uncle / Aunt | tio | tia |
| Cousin | primo | prima |
| Nephew / Niece | sobrinho | sobrinha |
In-Laws and Blended Families
- Sogro / sogra — father-in-law / mother-in-law
- Genro / nora — son-in-law / daughter-in-law
- Cunhado / cunhada — brother-in-law / sister-in-law
- Meio-irmão / meia-irmã — half-brother / half-sister
- Padrasto / madrasta — stepfather / stepmother
Talking About Your Family
To describe your family, use tenho (I have): "Tenho dois irmãos e uma irmã" (I have two brothers and a sister). To ask someone else, use "Você tem irmãos?" (Brazil) or "Tens irmãos?" (Portugal, informal).
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