tia
/ˈt͡ʃi.ɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for aunt is tia.
tia refers to a parent's sister or sister-in-law. You can specify which side of the family she is on by using the terms tia paterna for your father's sister and tia materna for your mother's sister.
Meaning: a parent's sister or sister-in-law (noun)
Which one should you use?
While tia is the feminine form used for an aunt, the masculine form for an uncle is tio.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tia is tias.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable: /ˈtʃi.ɐ/.
When do people say it?
In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, tia is used colloquially as a term of endearment or respect for older women who are not biological relatives, similar to how 'auntie' is used in English.
Did you know?
- The word tia shares an unexpected ancestor with the Greek word for 'aunt', θεία, meaning 'divine' or 'godly'.
- Some Brazilian children use tia to address their female teachers in school, treating the classroom as an extension of the family unit.
- The term tia can be used ironically or humorously to describe an older woman who is perceived as traditional, fussy or out of touch.
Examples in context
- Amo a minha tia.I love my aunt.This sentence shows how to express affection for your tia.Tatoeba #6993185 by iart61, translation #6113945 by mailohilohi
- Mary é a tia de Tom.Mary is Tom's aunt.This sentence demonstrates how to identify someone as Tom's tia.Tatoeba #1298356 by alexmarcelo, translation #1030071 by CK
- Ela não é minha tia.She is not my aunt.This sentence shows how to negate the relationship with your tia.Tatoeba #11130169 by carlosalberto, translation #11130168 by carlosalberto
- Boa tarde, Tia MariaGood afternoon, Aunt Maria
- Tia-avó Joana, como está passando?Great-Aunt Joana, how are you doing?
- Olá, tia! Como foi seu dia?Hello, aunt! How was your day?
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila is showing Gabriel a family photo.
- CamilaEsta é a minha tia.This is my aunt.
- GabrielEla é legal?Is she nice?
- CamilaSim, minha tia é muito engraçada.Yes, my aunt is very funny.
- GabrielQue ótimo!That's great!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries tia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
