What’s up, guys? In our Dica today, we are going to talk about the family in Portuguese. Do you know how to say mother, father, brother, sister, or daughter in Portuguese? I am sure by the end of this class you will know even what does it mean tia in Portuguese!
Family Members in Portuguese
Now, let’s check out a list with the vocabulary for family members in Portuguese: from the basic mother, father, sister, and brother; to the specific tia in Portuguese!
| Família | Family | |
| Mãe | Mother | |
| Pai | Father | |
| Pais | Parents | |
| Madrasta | Stepmother | |
| Padrasto | Stepfather | |
| Padrastos | Stepparents | |
| Esposa | Wife | |
| Mulher / Esposa | Woman / Wife | |
| Marido / Esposo | Husband | |
| Filha | Daughter | |
| Filho | Son | |
| Filhos | Children | |
| Irmã | Sister | |
| Irmão | Brother | |
| Irmãos | Brothers and Sisters / Brothers / Siblings | |
| Irmãs | Sisters | |
| Enteada | Stepdaughter | |
| Enteado | Stepbrother | |
| Neta | Granddaughter | |
| Neto | Grandson | |
| Netos | Grandchildren | |
| Parente | Relative | |
| Prima | Cousin (female) | |
| Primo | Cousin (male) | |
| Sobrinha | Niece | |
| Sobrinho | Nephew | |
| Tia | Aunt | |
| Tio | Uncle | |
| Avó | Grandmother | |
| Avô | Grandfather | |
| Avós | Grandparents | |
| Amiga | Friend (female) | |
| Amigo | Friend (male) | |
| Cunhada | Sister-in-law | |
| Cunhado | Brother-in-law | |
| Namorada | Girlfriend | |
| Namorado | Boyfriend | |
| Sogra | Mother-in-law | |
| Sogro | Father-in-law |
Example of Family in Portuguese
Meu nome é José e tenho 28 anos. Moro com minha família em São Paulo. Agora vou falar sobre os membros da minha família em Português. Minha esposa se chama Juliana, e temos dois filhos, Eduarda e Pedro. Meu pai se chama João e minha mãe se chama Margarida. Os dois moram no Rio de Janeiro e estão casados há 40 anos. Tenho dois irmãos, Augusto e Carlos que também moram no Rio com as famílias deles. Meu avô, senhor Alfredo e minha avó, dona Augusta, moram em Minas Gerais e são casados há 60 anos. Eles são muito felizes. Durante as férias, sempre viajamos para o nosso sítio, onde meus filhos podem brincar com os primos deles. Somos uma família grande e muito feliz.
Translation of the Example
My name is José and I am 28 years old. I’m going to talk about my family members in Portuguese. I live with my family in São Paulo. My wife´s name is Juliana, and we have two kids, Eduarda and Pedro. My father´s name is João and my mother´s name is Margarida. Both of them live in Rio de Janeiro and they have been married for 40 years. I have two brothers, Augusto and Carlos, who live in Rio with their families too. My grandfather, Mr. Alfredo, and my grandmother, Ms. Augusta, live in Minas Gerais and they have been married for 60 years. They are very happy. During vacations, we always travel to our house in the countryside, where my kids can play with their cousins. We are a big and happy family.

There are different ways to talk about the family in Portuguese. Take a look at another example:
Example of Family Members
Meu nome é Renato, tenho 21 anos e sou estudante de História. Sou do Rio de Janeiro, mas moro em São Paulo porque minha universidade fica aqui. Agora vou te contar sobre a minha família em Português.
Sou de uma família muito pequena: Paulo, meu pai, tem 49 anos e Margarete, minha mãe, tem 46. Susana, minha irmã é mais velha que eu, ela tem 25 anos e estuda nos Estados Unidos, meu irmão se chama Pedro e mora no Canadá porque está estudando Administração lá. Também tenho um avô, Ismael, ele tem 71 anos e minha avó, Dalva, tem 70. Também temos um cachorro que faz parte de nossa família, o nome dele é Zeus. Além disso, eu tenho um grande amigo estrangeiro que fez o CELPE-Bras e é fluente em Português.
Translation of the Example
My name is Renato, I am 21 years old and I study History. I am from Rio de Janeiro, but I live in São Paulo because my university is here. Now I’m going to tell you about my family in Portuguese.
I am from a small family. Paulo, my father, is 49 years old, and Margarete, my mother, is 46. Susana, my older sister, is 25 years old and she studies in the USA. My brother is Pedro and he lives in Canada because he is studying Business there. I also have my grandfather, Ismael, who is 71 years old, and my grandmother, Dalva, who is 70. We also have a dog that is part of our family; its name is Zeus. Besides that, I have a great foreign friend who did the CELPE-Bras exam and is fluent in Portuguese.
Mother in Portuguese
The word for mother in Portuguese is “mãe.” It’s a feminine noun, which means it uses feminine articles and adjectives.
Example Sentence: “Minha mãe é incrível.” (My mother is amazing.)

Beyond its literal meaning, “mãe” can also be used more broadly to refer to a motherly figure or someone who provides care and nurturing. For example, someone might refer to the Virgin Mary as “Nossa Senhora Mãe” (Our Lady Mother), highlighting her nurturing and protective role.
Another colloquial use of “mãe” might be to refer to someone who has a motherly demeanor, even if they aren’t a biological mother.
Father in Portuguese
The word for father in Portuguese is “pai.” This is a masculine noun, so it takes masculine articles and adjectives.
Example Sentence: “Meu pai me ensinou a andar de bicicleta.” (My father taught me how to ride a bike.)
Similar to “mãe,” the word “pai” also has extended meanings. For instance:
Religious Meaning: In a religious context in Brazil, “pai” can refer to God, and the term “Padre” (Father) is commonly used to address Catholic priests. However, people might also use “pai” informally to refer to a spiritual father or guide.
Example Sentence: “O pai da igreja nos abençoou.” (The church’s father blessed us.)
Pai as a Founding Figure: “Pai” can also be used metaphorically to refer to a founding figure or someone who originated something significant. For example, “Pai da Pátria” is a term sometimes used to describe a national founding figure, akin to “Father of the Nation.”
Example Sentence: “Dom Pedro I é considerado o pai do Brasil.” (Dom Pedro I is considered the father of Brazil.)
Common Mistakes with “Mãe” and “Pai”
Mixing Singular and Plural: It’s easy to mix up singular and plural forms. For example, saying “os mãe” instead of “as mães” (the mothers).
“Pais” x “País”: In Portuguese, “pais” (without an accent) means “parents,” referring to both the mother and father. “País” (with an accent) means “country” or “nation.” The accent changes the meaning entirely.
Example Sentence: “Meus pais moram no Brasil.” (My parents live in Brazil.)
Example Sentence: “Eu amo meu país” (I love my country)
Grandfather in Portuguese
Grandfather means “Avô” in Brazil. Beyond just being a word for your grandfather, “Avô” symbolizes wisdom, tradition, and the male elder’s role in the family. He’s often the storyteller and the one who connects the past with the present, helping to shape family values and history.

Example Sentences:
“Meu avô me contou histórias incríveis sobre a infância dele.”
(My grandfather told me incredible stories about his childhood.)
“Meu avô sempre me ensinou a importância de respeitar os outros.”
(My grandfather always taught me the importance of respecting others.)
Grandmother in Portuguese
Grandmother means “Avó” in Brazil. Beyond the literal meaning, “Avó” represents warmth, care, and the nurturing spirit of the family. She’s often the heart of the home, sharing love through food, traditions, and a comforting presence.
Example:
“Minha avó faz o melhor bolo de chocolate do mundo.”
(My grandmother makes the best chocolate cake in the world.)
“Sempre vou à casa da minha avó para aprender as receitas tradicionais da família.”
(I always go to my grandmother’s house to learn the traditional family recipes.)
Brother in Portuguese
Brazilians use slang that is very important for you to keep in mind: brother, in English itself, and irmão. They are slang used to address a friend or stranger in a friendly manner. Interestingly, when used as slang, there is no gender variation to those words. So don’t be surprised if a Brazilian friend calls you irmão or brother in the middle of a conversation in Portuguese! Let’s check some examples:
João é meu melhor amigo, ele é meu irmão.
(João is my best friend, he is my brother.)
Brother, minha namorada é muito bonita!
(Brother, my girlfriend is very pretty!)

However, there is a variation of irmão, very used in Rio de Janeiro, that is mermão. This is a term that is the combination of meu + irmão. It’s not often used as a friendly treatment, but rather as an exclamation emphasis. Just like some other ones we use in Portuguese, such as Uau, Nossa!, Caramba. Let’s check out some examples to understand it:
However, there is a variation of irmão, very used in Rio de Janeiro, that is mermão. This is a term that is the combination of meu + irmão. It’s not often used as a friendly treatment, but rather as an exclamation emphasis. Just like some other ones we use in Portuguese, such as Uau, Nossa!, Caramba. Let’s check out some examples to understand it:
Mermão! A prova de matemática estava impossível!
(Mermão! The math test was impossible!)
A melhor escola para aprender português é a Rio & Learn, mermão!
(The best school to learn Portuguese is Rio & Learn, mermão!)
Why is everybody called tia?
Yes, tia in Portuguese is originally used for the sister of your parents. However, you already know that in Brazil we are very affectionate even with strangers, right? That is why you will often see children and teenagers calling older women tia and older men tio, even when they are not related. This is not considered disrespectful, but rather the opposite: it’s expected that your children’s friends refer to you as tia/tio, for example.
Culturally, it’s also considered a rite of passage: in school, kids can call their teachers’ tia/tio until they reach the second part of the Fundamental School (around age 12). After that, children are introduced to the fact people often have titles, just like the teachers. But it’s important to notice that for their friends’ parents or other older people, these kids and teenagers will continue using tia/tio.
It’s also a rite of passage into adulthood: when kids get confident into calling you tia/tio, it means you are for sure looking old! :p
Here in Brazil, pets are treated as family members! Now we have just learned about mother, father, sister, brother and more family members in Portuguese.
Don’t forget that practice makes perfect. The best way to avoid common mistakes is to practice speaking and writing as much as possible. Listening to native speakers and repeating after them can also help reinforce correct usage.
What other family members do you know? Check out our Instagram to get to know more about us from Rio & Learn!
See you!
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Greetings and Farewells in Portuguese
Informal greetings in Portuguese
Numbers from 1 to 10 in Portuguese
Possessive pronouns in Portuguese
Online Academic Coordinator at Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
Experienced educational coordinator and teacher since 2007, adept in curriculum development, creating physical and digital educational materials, and leveraging online platforms to enhance learning outcomes
One Response
Is Enteado really stepbrother? I thought it was meio-irmão? Or is this a regional thing? But I thought entreado was stepson. Obrigada