clan
/ˈklan/masculine
The Spanish word for "clan" is clan.
clan refers to a group of people sharing a common ancestor.
Meaning: group having common ancestor (noun)
Which one should you use?
While clan refers to a group with a common ancestor, you might use other terms depending on the context. For instance, Linaje emphasizes blood ties or lineage and Tribu can describe a clan-like group in historical or indigenous contexts. Parentela is used to refer to extended family or a wider network of relatives.
How does it change in a sentence?
clan is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈklan/
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'clan', which is strongly associated with Scottish highlands, the Spanish clan is frequently used in news reports to describe organized crime families.
- Unlike many words in Spanish that have ancient Latin roots, clan is a direct loanword from English.
- The word clan in Spanish can also refer to a group of people who act with a single, often negative, purpose, such as a 'clan de empresarios' or a 'clan de criminales'.
Examples in context
- Antonio se ha unido como nuevo miembro a nuestro clan.Antonio has joined our clan as a new member.This sentence shows how to use clan when talking about someone joining a group.Tatoeba #4661508 by saverius, translation #10831821 by SillyDonut7
- Mi familia es muy unida. Somos un clan familiar desde hace generaciones.My family is very close-knit. We have been a family clan for generations.
- Los descendientes de aquel linaje forman un clan muy reconocido.The descendants of that lineage form a highly recognized clan.
- La parentela se reúne cada año en una gran fiesta familiar.The extended family gathers every year for a big family celebration.
- Nuestra hermandad de estudiantes es como un clan, siempre apoyándonos.Our student brotherhood is like a clan, always supporting each other.
- El clan vive en las montañas.The clan lives in the mountains.
- Ese clan es muy antiguo.That clan is very ancient.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are discussing their family history.
- JavierTengo curiosidad sobre el origen de tu clan.I am curious about the origin of your clan.
- SofíaMi clan viene de las montañas del norte.My clan comes from the northern mountains.
- JavierEso suena muy interesante, Sofía.That sounds very interesting, Sofía.
- SofíaSí, tenemos muchas tradiciones antiguas.Yes, we have many ancient traditions.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clan” translations and entries clan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries clan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
