ambos padres
/ambos padɾes/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'both parents' is translated into Spanish as ambos padres.
The phrase ambos padres is used to mean 'both parents'.
Which one should you use?
While ambos padres is perfectly correct, los dos padres is a very common, slightly more colloquial way to express the same idea in spoken Spanish.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ambos padres, the word ambos functions as an adjective and must agree in gender with the noun padres, which is masculine plural. Additionally, ambos progenitores can be used as a more formal or clinical alternative to ambos padres in legal or medical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
/ambos padɾes/
Did you know?
- While padres means 'parents' when used in the plural, using it in the singular padre can sometimes be a slang term for 'cool' or 'great' in Mexico.
- In a religious context, Padre is the primary title for a priest, meaning that ambos padres could technically refer to two priests if the context is a church.
- The word ambos is a linguistic survivor from Old Leonese that eventually conquered the rest of the Spanish language, displacing the older form amos.
Examples in context
- Mis padres están muy orgullosos de mi hermano. Ambos padres asistirán a su graduación.My parents are very proud of my brother. Both parents will attend his graduation.
- ¡Hola! Vine a visitar a mamá y papá. ¿Están en casa?Hello! I came to visit mom and dad. Are they home?
- Ambos padres están en casa.Both parents are at home.
- Ambos padres asistieron a la reunión.Both parents attended the meeting.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are talking about their childhoods.
- Elena¿Tus hermanos viven con ambos padres?Do your siblings live with both parents?
- DanielSí, ellos viven con ambos padres.Yes, they live with both parents.
- ElenaQué bueno que estén juntos.It's great that they are together.
- DanielSí, es muy importante para ellos.Yes, it is very important for them.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ambos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
