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. In many Spanish-speaking countries, especially Spain, it is also used colloquially as a generic term to refer to a woman or a girl, similar to how one might use 'girl' or 'woman' in certain English dialects.
Meaning: a parent's sister or sister-in-law (noun)
Which one should you use?
While tía specifically means aunt, in slang or colloquial contexts it can function as a generic term for a woman or a friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term tití is an informal way to say 'auntie' specifically in Puerto Rico. In many regions, using tía to refer to a woman or girl is considered colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Puerto Rico, the informal term tití is used to mean 'auntie'. In Spain and many other Spanish-speaking countries, tía is used colloquially to refer to a woman or a girl.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine singular form is tía and the plural form is tías. The masculine form of the word is tío, which means uncle.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtia/
Did you know?
- The word tía shares an ancient ancestor with the Greek word for 'divine', stemming from a root that implies something sacred or heavenly.
- In Spain, the phrase ¡Oye, tía! is often used as an exclamation of surprise or disbelief, similar to saying 'Girl!' or 'No way!' in English.
- In some Latin American cultures, it is common to call a woman tía as a sign of respect even if she is not a biological relative.
Examples in context
- Es tu tía, ¿no?She's your aunt, isn't she?This sentence is useful for confirming a relationship 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 a tía.Tatoeba #1403691 by marcelostockle, translation #17411 by CK
- Mi tía nos visitó.My aunt visited us.This sentence is useful for describing an action performed by a tía.Tatoeba #1680925 by termito2nd, translation #11275654 by Luornu
- Mi querida tía, ¿cómo estás?My dear aunt, how are you?
- Tía Carmen, me siento muy agradecida por tu apoyo.Aunt Carmen, I am very grateful for your support.
- Señorita, ¿podría presentarle a mi tía?Miss, may I introduce you to my aunt?
- ¡Hola, tití! ¿Cómo has estado?Hello, auntie! How have you been?
- Tití, ¿me puedes ayudar con este problema?Auntie, can you help me with this issue?
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños, tití! Espero que tengas un día maravilloso.Happy birthday, auntie! I hope you have a wonderful day.
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are looking at old family photos.
- Alejandro¿Quién es esta mujer?Who is this woman?
- SofíaEs mi tía Elena.It is my aunt Elena.
- AlejandroEs una foto muy bonita.It is a very beautiful photo.
- SofíaSí, a mi tía le encanta viajar.Yes, my aunt loves to travel.
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.
