Brazilian Portuguese Family Vocabulary

Brazilian Portuguese for real conversations

Learn the family words you actually need—and the ones that commonly confuse English speakers.

Family vocabulary looks simple until you meet words such as parentes, pais, cunhado, enteada, or the tiny accent difference between avó and avô.

This guide gives you the essential vocabulary for immediate family, extended relatives, in-laws, blended families, partners, godparents, affectionate forms, and real conversation—plus the grammar patterns that help you use the words correctly.

70+ useful terms

From mãe and pai to sogra, enteado, padrinho, and bisneta.

False-friend traps

Especially parentes, pais, país, and mulher.

Real Brazilian usage

Possessives, mixed-gender plurals, affectionate forms, and regional variation.

Complete dialogues

Ask about family and describe your own without sounding like a vocabulary list.

Start here

Twenty Brazilian Portuguese family words to learn first

If you are a beginner, start with the people you are most likely to mention in everyday conversation. You can add the more specific terms later.

Portuguese	English	Example
família	family	Minha família mora no Brasil. My family lives in Brazil.
parente	relative	Tenho parentes em Minas Gerais. I have relatives in Minas Gerais.
mãe	mother / mom	Minha mãe trabalha em casa. My mom works from home.
pai	father / dad	Meu pai gosta de cozinhar. My dad likes to cook.
pais	parents	Meus pais moram perto. My parents live nearby.
filho	son	Ele tem um filho. He has a son.
filha	daughter	Ela tem duas filhas. She has two daughters.
irmão	brother	Meu irmão é mais velho. My brother is older.
irmã	sister	Minha irmã mora em Recife. My sister lives in Recife.
irmãos	siblings / brothers	Você tem irmãos? Do you have siblings?
avó	grandmother	Minha avó tem 82 anos. My grandmother is 82.
avô	grandfather	Meu avô nasceu na Bahia. My grandfather was born in Bahia.
tio	uncle	Meu tio vem amanhã. My uncle is coming tomorrow.
tia	aunt	Minha tia mora em Salvador. My aunt lives in Salvador.
primo	male cousin	Meu primo estuda medicina. My cousin studies medicine.
prima	female cousin	Minha prima está viajando. My cousin is traveling.
sobrinho	nephew	Meu sobrinho tem cinco anos. My nephew is five.
sobrinha	niece	Minha sobrinha nasceu ontem. My niece was born yesterday.
marido	husband	Meu marido é brasileiro. My husband is Brazilian.
esposa	wife	Minha esposa fala português. My wife speaks Portuguese.

Parents, children, and siblings

Immediate family vocabulary

Parents

mãe

mother / mom

pai

father / dad

pais

parents

Pais has no accent. País, with an accent, means “country.”

Children

filho

son

filha

daughter

filhos

children / sons

In a mixed group, the masculine plural traditionally functions as the general plural.

Siblings

irmão

brother

irmã

sister

irmãos

siblings / brothers

Tenho dois irmãos can mean “I have two brothers” or “I have two siblings,” depending on context.

Useful question:

Você tem irmãos?

Do you have any siblings?

This is much more natural than trying to invent a separate everyday noun corresponding exactly to English “siblings.”

The accent changes the person

Grandparents, grandchildren, and generations

The pair avó and avô is worth learning visually and by sound. The accent marks are different because the vowel quality is different.

avó = grandmother

Minha avó materna mora comigo.

My maternal grandmother lives with me.

The final vowel is open: ó.

avô = grandfather

Meu avô paterno era professor.

My paternal grandfather was a teacher.

The final vowel is closed: ô.

Portuguese	English	Usage note
os avós	the grandparents	Used for a mixed group of grandmothers and grandfathers.
as avós	the grandmothers	Feminine article makes the meaning clear.
os avôs	the grandfathers	Used when the group is exclusively male.
avó materna	maternal grandmother	Your mother’s mother.
avô materno	maternal grandfather	Your mother’s father.
avó paterna	paternal grandmother	Your father’s mother.
avô paterno	paternal grandfather	Your father’s father.
bisavó	great-grandmother	One generation above a grandparent.
bisavô	great-grandfather	One generation above a grandparent.
neto	grandson	Male grandchild.
neta	granddaughter	Female grandchild.
netos	grandchildren / grandsons	Mixed group or male-only group, depending on context.
bisneto	great-grandson	Male great-grandchild.
bisneta	great-granddaughter	Female great-grandchild.

Aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews

Extended family vocabulary

Portuguese	English	Example
tio	uncle	Meu tio é irmão da minha mãe. My uncle is my mother’s brother.
tia	aunt	Minha tia é irmã do meu pai. My aunt is my father’s sister.
tios	aunts and uncles / uncles	Meus tios vêm no domingo. My aunt(s) and uncle(s) are coming Sunday.
primo	male cousin	Ele é meu primo por parte de mãe. He is my cousin on my mother’s side.
prima	female cousin	Ela é minha prima por parte de pai. She is my cousin on my father’s side.
sobrinho	nephew	O filho da minha irmã é meu sobrinho. My sister’s son is my nephew.
sobrinha	niece	A filha do meu irmão é minha sobrinha. My brother’s daughter is my niece.
tio-avô	great-uncle	The brother of one of your grandparents.
tia-avó	great-aunt	The sister of one of your grandparents.
parente distante	distant relative	Useful when the exact relationship is not important.

Relationship words matter too

Partners, spouses, dating, and engagement

Everyday relationship words

namorado / namorada

boyfriend / girlfriend

noivo / noiva

fiancé / fiancée

marido

husband

esposa

wife

Neutral or formal alternatives

companheiro / companheira

partner / companion

parceiro / parceira

partner

cônjuge

spouse

Cônjuge is especially useful in forms, legal language, and administrative contexts; it is less conversational than marido, esposa, or companheiro(a).

Family by marriage or partnership

In-law vocabulary in Brazilian Portuguese

English repeats “in-law.” Portuguese normally uses a different word for each relationship.

Portuguese	English	Example
sogro	father-in-law	Meu sogro mora em Brasília. My father-in-law lives in Brasília.
sogra	mother-in-law	Minha sogra cozinha muito bem. My mother-in-law cooks very well.
cunhado	brother-in-law	Meu cunhado é irmão do meu marido. My brother-in-law is my husband’s brother.
cunhada	sister-in-law	Minha cunhada é irmã da minha esposa. My sister-in-law is my wife’s sister.
genro	son-in-law	Ele é meu genro. He is my son-in-law.
nora	daughter-in-law	Ela é minha nora. She is my daughter-in-law.

Modern families need more than one model

Blended, adoptive, biological, and other family relationships

Portuguese	English	Usage note
padrasto	stepfather	Your parent’s male spouse or partner in relation to you.
madrasta	stepmother	Your parent’s female spouse or partner in relation to you.
enteado	stepson	Your spouse or partner’s son in relation to you.
enteada	stepdaughter	Your spouse or partner’s daughter in relation to you.
meio-irmão	half-brother	A brother who shares one parent with you.
meia-irmã	half-sister	A sister who shares one parent with you.
pai biológico	biological father	Use when the distinction is relevant.
mãe biológica	biological mother	Use when the distinction is relevant.
pai adotivo / mãe adotiva	adoptive father / mother	Describes an adoptive parent.
filho adotivo / filha adotiva	adopted son / daughter	Describes an adopted child when the distinction matters.
família adotiva	adoptive family	A family formed through adoption.
família de criação	family that raised someone	Colloquial/social concept; not necessarily the same as legal adoption.

Relationships beyond the family tree

Godparents, godchildren, and chosen-family language

Godparents

padrinho

godfather

madrinha

godmother

Godchildren

afilhado

godson

afilhada

goddaughter

Between the adults

compadre

the male co-parent/godparent relationship term

comadre

the female co-parent/godparent relationship term

In Brazilian Portuguese, padrinho and madrinha are not limited to one single context: the words can be used for baptismal godparents and also for sponsors or witnesses in other ceremonies. The exact social relationship depends on the event and family.

What people call relatives at home

Affectionate and regional family words

Family terms often change in intimate speech. These forms can signal affection, childhood habits, region, or family style.

Portuguese	Natural English	Usage note
mamãe	mom / mommy	Affectionate form of mãe; adults may also use it in their own families.
papai	dad / daddy	Affectionate form of pai.
vó	grandma	Very common shortened affectionate form of avó.
vô	grandpa	Very common shortened affectionate form of avô.
vovó	grandma / granny	Affectionate.
vovô	grandpa / granddad	Affectionate.
mainha	mom / mum	Affectionate regional form associated with parts of Brazil’s Northeast; not universal even within the region.
painho	dad	Affectionate regional form associated with parts of Brazil’s Northeast.
mano / mana	bro / sis; sometimes buddy	Can refer to a sibling, but also functions as informal address in some regions and social groups.
filhinho / filhinha	little son / daughter; sweetheart	Diminutive forms can sound affectionate, not merely physically “small.”

Vocabulary becomes usable when the grammar is simple

Gender, plurals, articles, and possessives

Possessives agree with the family word

meu pai

my father

minha mãe

my mother

meus irmãos

my siblings / brothers

minhas irmãs

my sisters

The possessive changes according to the noun, not according to the speaker.

Articles before possessives vary

Minha mãe chegou.

My mother arrived.

A minha mãe chegou.

My mother arrived.

Both patterns occur in Portuguese. In Brazilian speech, usage varies by region and speaker. Beginners can comfortably use minha mãe, meu pai, and similar forms.

Mixed groups often use the masculine plural

irmãos

brothers OR siblings

tios

uncles OR aunts and uncles

primos

male cousins OR cousins of mixed genders

Grandparents have a useful special pattern

os avós

the grandparents

as avós

the grandmothers

os avôs

the grandfathers

The article and accent together help identify the group.

These cause more mistakes than the long words

Family vocabulary false friends and confusing pairs

Difference between parentes, pais, and país in Brazilian Portuguese

parente ≠ parent

Parente means relative. “Parents” is pais.

pais ≠ país

Pais = parents. País = country. The accent changes pronunciation and meaning.

mulher has two common readings

It can mean “woman” or “wife.” Context normally makes the intended meaning clear.

noiva is not just “girlfriend”

Noivo/noiva means fiancé/fiancée: the couple is engaged. Boyfriend/girlfriend is namorado/namorada.

primo/prima does not show cousin type

Portuguese distinguishes the cousin’s gender, not “first cousin” versus every English relationship label in ordinary conversation.

irmãos may hide gender information

Tenho três irmãos can mean three brothers or three siblings. Add detail if gender matters.

Move from vocabulary to conversation

How to ask about someone’s family in Brazilian Portuguese

Portuguese	Natural English	Use
Você tem irmãos?	Do you have siblings?	Very common, neutral question.
Você tem filhos?	Do you have children?	Common, but personal; use context.
Sua família mora aqui?	Does your family live here?	Useful when talking about origin or relocation.
Como estão seus pais?	How are your parents?	Natural when you already know something about them.
Você é filho único? / filha única?	Are you an only child?	The adjective agrees with the person being described.
Você tem uma família grande?	Do you have a big family?	General conversation question.
Você é próximo da sua família?	Are you close to your family?	More personal; better after some rapport.
Quem é ela na foto?	Who is she in the photo?	Lets the person explain the relationship naturally.

Build sentences instead of memorizing labels

How to describe your family naturally

Basic description

Tenho dois irmãos: um irmão mais velho e uma irmã mais nova.

I have two siblings: an older brother and a younger sister.

Where people live

Meus pais moram em Belo Horizonte, mas minha irmã mora em São Paulo.

My parents live in Belo Horizonte, but my sister lives in São Paulo.

Relationship

Sou muito próxima da minha avó.

I’m very close to my grandmother.

A male speaker would normally say Sou muito próximo….

Family size

Minha família é pequena. Somos só quatro pessoas.

My family is small. There are only four of us.

Blended family

Tenho uma meia-irmã por parte de pai e dois irmãos por parte de mãe.

I have a half-sister on my father’s side and two siblings on my mother’s side.

Partner and children

Moro com meu marido e nossos dois filhos.

I live with my husband and our two children.

A useful beginner pattern: Tenho… (“I have…”) + family member + one extra detail.

Tenho uma irmã. Ela mora no Rio.

I have a sister. She lives in Rio.

Real conversation

Six bilingual dialogues about family

1. Siblings

A: Você tem irmãos?

Do you have siblings?

B: Tenho. Um irmão e duas irmãs.

I do. One brother and two sisters.

Notice: the first question uses the mixed/general plural irmãos.

2. Parents

A: Seus pais moram perto?

Do your parents live nearby?

B: Minha mãe mora aqui, mas meu pai mora em outra cidade.

My mother lives here, but my father lives in another city.

3. Grandparents

A: Você conheceu seus avós?

Did you know your grandparents?

B: Sim. Eu era muito próximo da minha avó materna.

Yes. I was very close to my maternal grandmother.

4. Partner

A: Você veio sozinho para o Brasil?

Did you come to Brazil alone?

B: Não, vim com minha companheira.

No, I came with my partner.

5. In-laws

A: Quem é o Carlos?

Who is Carlos?

B: É meu cunhado, irmão da minha esposa.

He’s my brother-in-law, my wife’s brother.

6. Godmother

A: Ela é sua tia?

Is she your aunt?

B: Não. Ela é minha madrinha, mas eu chamo ela de tia desde criança.

No. She’s my godmother, but I’ve called her “aunt” since I was a child.

Check what you learned

Quick family-vocabulary practice

1. How do you say “my parents”?

Meus pais. Remember: pais without an accent means “parents.”

2. What does parente mean?

It means relative, not “parent.”

3. Your sister’s son is your…?

sobrinho — nephew.

4. Your spouse’s mother is your…?

sogra — mother-in-law.

5. What is the difference between avó and avô?

Avó is grandmother; avô is grandfather.

6. How do you ask “Do you have siblings?”

Você tem irmãos?

7. What is a madrinha?

A godmother, sponsor, or ceremonial female sponsor/witness depending on context.

8. What does noiva mean?

Fiancée or bride, depending on context—not simply “girlfriend.”

Continue learning

Frequently asked questions

FAQ about family vocabulary in Brazilian Portuguese

How do you say “family” in Portuguese?

Família means “family.” A relative is parente, and relatives are parentes.

How do you say “parents” in Brazilian Portuguese?

Pais means “parents.” Do not confuse it with país, which means “country.”

How do you say “siblings” in Portuguese?

Irmãos is the usual word for a group of siblings that includes at least one male, and it can also mean “brothers.” Irmãs means sisters.

What is the difference between avó and avô?

Avó, with an open final vowel, means grandmother. Avô, with a closed final vowel, means grandfather.

How do you say “grandparents” in Portuguese?

Os avós means “the grandparents.” As avós means “the grandmothers,” while os avôs can refer specifically to grandfathers.

Does parente mean “parent”?

No. This is a major false friend for English speakers. Parente means “relative.” Parent is pai or mãe, and parents is pais.

Can mulher mean “wife”?

Yes. Mulher means “woman,” but in a possessive relationship context it can also mean “wife.” Esposa is the unambiguous noun for wife.

Can Brazilians call non-relatives tio or tia?

Yes, in some families and settings, especially when children address close family friends or familiar adults. It is a social usage, not a literal statement of biological kinship, and it varies across speakers and contexts.

What do mainha and painho mean?

They are affectionate regional forms for mom and dad associated with parts of Brazil’s Northeast. Usage varies considerably within the region, so learners should recognize them rather than assume everyone uses them.

What is the easiest way to practice family vocabulary?

Describe your actual family or a fictional family tree using complete sentences. Practice patterns such as Tenho…, Meu/minha…, Ele/ela é…, and mora em… instead of memorizing isolated translations.

Language references: Vocabulary and relationship terminology were checked against the Academia Brasileira de Letras’ official Vocabulário Ortográfico da Língua Portuguesa, the Brazilian Michaelis dictionary, and Brazilian government materials that define relationships such as sogro, genro, nora, enteado, padrasto, madrasta, and cunhado. Regional and affectionate usage varies across Brazil; examples are presented as usage patterns rather than rules for every speaker.

Brazilian Portuguese Family Vocabulary: Family Members & Relatives