nido vacío
/nido baθio/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase 'empty nest' is translated into Spanish as nido vacío.
Nido vacío refers to a home or family where the children have moved away. If you are specifically referring to the psychological phenomenon or the feelings of loss experienced by parents, the term used is el síndrome del nido vacío (empty nest syndrome).
Meaning: home or family where the children have moved away (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of 'empty nest'. The word nido means 'nest' and vacío means 'empty'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun nido is masculine, so the accompanying adjective vacío must also be in its masculine form. To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural ending '-s', resulting in los nidos vacíos.
How do you pronounce it?
/nido baθio/
Did you know?
- Due to cultural norms where adult children stay home longer, the síndrome del nido vacío may be less acute or delayed in Spanish-speaking countries compared to Anglophone ones.
- In Spanish, the word nido is used in the phrase nido de ratas to describe a filthy place or a den of thieves.
- The English medical term 'nidus', referring to a central point of infection, is a direct relative of the Spanish word nido.
Examples in context
- Mis ojos se llenan de lágrimas, cuando pienso en los queridas personas mayores, que durante toda su vida se dedicaron a sus hijos, y que ahora en soledad se encuentran tristes en el nido vacío.My eyes are filled with tears when I think about our beloved elderly, who dedicated their whole lives to their children, and now find themselves alone and sorrowful in an empty nest.The sentence is useful for illustrating how the phrase nido vacío is used when discussing the loneliness of elderly people whose children have left.Tatoeba #1124131 by alekso, translation #1126421 by AlanF_US
- Ella siente mucha soledad en su nido vacío.She feels very lonely in her empty nest.
- El nido vacío puede ser una etapa difícil.The empty nest can be a difficult stage.
Example conversation
María and Javier are talking about their children leaving for college.
- María¿Cómo te sientes con el nido vacío, Javier?How do you feel with the empty nest, Javier?
- JavierEs extraño no tener a los niños en casa.It is strange not having the children at home.
- MaríaTe entiendo, yo también extraño a mi hija.I understand you, I miss my daughter too.
- JavierDebemos aprovechar este tiempo para nosotros.We should make the most of this time for ourselves.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “empty nest” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
