Which one should you use?
hermano specifically denotes a male sibling, whereas the feminine form hermana means sister.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While hermano is the standard term, it can be used informally to address a close male friend, functioning similarly to the English word 'bro'. For a more affectionate and informal way to say 'little brother', you can use hermanito.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, such as Rosario and Santa Fe, the word viejo is used as an informal term of endearment for family members or close friends, including brothers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural form hermanos is used to refer to a group of brothers or to a mixed-gender group of siblings. You can change the final -o of hermano to an -a to create the feminine form hermana, meaning sister.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɾˈmano/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American slang, particularly in Mexico, you might hear the word carnal used to mean a brother or a very close friend, stemming from the word for 'flesh'.
- The English word 'germane', meaning relevant or fitting, is a linguistic relative of hermano. Both come from the Latin word germānus, which originally described siblings born to the same parents.
- Spanish has a specific word for a 'half-brother', medio hermano, but it is also common to use hermanastro for a step-brother, reflecting a clear linguistic distinction between blood and legal ties.
Examples in context
- Él es mi hermano.He is my brother.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a brother using hermano.Tatoeba #493576 by Shishir, translation #250680 by CK
- No es mi hermano.He's not my brother.This sentence is useful for denying a sibling relationship using hermano.Tatoeba #9285961 by Javea, translation #9806534 by DJ_Saidez
- Trae a tu hermano.Bring your brother.This sentence is useful for requesting that someone bring their brother using hermano.Tatoeba #977654 by Shishir, translation #9770441 by DJ_Saidez
- Señor, su hermano lo espera afueraSir, your brother is waiting for you outside
- ¿Qué tal, hermanito? ¿Vamos a jugar al fútbol?What's up, little brother? Shall we play soccer?
- ¡Hey, bro! ¿Vienes a la fiesta esta noche?Hey, bro! Are you coming to the party tonight?
- 848 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.
- Alejandro¿Cómo está tu hermano, Sofía?How is your brother, Sofia?
- SofíaÉl está muy bien, gracias.He is doing very well, thanks.
- AlejandroMe alegro mucho por él.I am very happy for him.
- SofíaEres muy amable, Alejandro.You are very kind, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries hermano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
