tía
/ˈtia/feminine
The Spanish word for aunt is tía.
tía is a noun used to refer to a parent's sister or sister-in-law.
Meaning: a parent's sister or sister-in-law (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In many Spanish-speaking countries, tía is used colloquially to refer to a woman, similar to how 'auntie' or even 'girl' might be used in certain English dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form tías is used when referring to multiple female aunts. When referring to a mixed group of aunts and uncles together, the masculine plural form tíos is used.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtia/
Did you know?
- The word tía descends from the Ancient Greek theía, which originally meant 'divine' or 'heavenly'.
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, particularly in Spain, calling someone tía can sometimes be used to express surprise or to emphasize a point during an exclamation.
- In some Latin American cultures, tía is used as a sign of respect for any older woman in the community, even if she is a complete stranger.
Examples in context
- Es tu tía, ¿no?She's your aunt, isn't she?This sentence is useful for confirming someone's identity using tía.Tatoeba #10012150 by manufrutos, translation #8526839 by CH
- ¿Qué hace tu tía?What does your aunt do?This sentence is useful for asking about the occupation of an aunt using tía.Tatoeba #1403691 by marcelostockle, translation #17411 by CK
- Mi tía nos visitó.My aunt visited us.This sentence is useful for describing a visit from an aunt using tía.Tatoeba #1680925 by termito2nd, translation #11275654 by Luornu
- Mi tía es muy cariñosa y siempre me consiente.My aunt is very affectionate and always spoils me.
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are talking about a family gathering.
- María¿Viene tu tía a la fiesta?Is your aunt coming to the party?
- MateoSí, mi tía llegará tarde.Yes, my aunt will arrive late.
- MaríaQué bueno que ella venga.It is good that she is coming.
- MateoA ella le encanta verte.She loves seeing you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries tía, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
