tía
standard, Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico an aunt is tía, and many families use the affectionate tita for an aunt they are close to.
Meaning: sister of a parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| tía | standard, Puerto Rico |
| tita | affectionate, Puerto Rico |
Tía works for any aunt, by blood or by marriage. Children often put the name after it, as in tía Carmen.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is feminine, so it takes la and mi: mi tía. An uncle is tío.
Did you know?
- Tita is also a common nickname for women of any age in Spanish-speaking families, not only aunts.
Examples in context
- Mi tía vive en Ponce.My aunt lives in Ponce.
- Voy a ver a tita este domingo.I am going to see my aunt this Sunday.
Example conversation
Sofía talks to her aunt Carmen on the phone before a Sunday family lunch.
- SofíaHola, tía Carmen. ¿Vas a ir al almuerzo el domingo?Hi, Aunt Carmen. Are you going to the lunch on Sunday?
- CarmenClaro que sí, nena. Llevo el postre.Of course, sweetie. I will bring dessert.
- SofíaPerfecto, tita. Te veo allá.Perfect, Auntie. See you there.
