Quiero a mi hermana
/kjeɾo a mi eɾmana/from spelling rules
To say "I love my sister" in Spanish, use Quiero a mi hermana.
This phrase is a statement used to express deep affection for one's sister. While Quiero a mi hermana is the standard expression, you might hear more intense or informal variations like Amo a mi hermana con locura to mean "I love my sister madly" or Quiero un montón a mi hermana to mean "I love my sister a ton".
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, the verb querer is the standard way to express affection for family members. In contrast, the verb amar is often perceived as more poetic or romantic.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the a appearing before mi hermana is known as the "personal a". This is a grammatical requirement in Spanish when the direct object of a sentence is a specific person.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo a mi eɾmana/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Quiero mi hermana. English speakers often forget the "personal a", but omitting it makes the sentence sound like you are saying "I want my sister" as an object to be possessed rather than expressing affection.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, people use hermana or hermanita as a term of endearment for very close female friends, even if they are not related by blood.
- The word hermana shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'germane', which relates to being closely related or of the same kind.
- The verb amar is so intense that using it for a sibling can sound overly dramatic or like a line from a 19th-century novel in many modern dialects.
Example conversation
Javier is talking to María about his family.
- JavierTengo una relación muy buena con mi familia.I have a very good relationship with my family.
- María¿Y cómo te llevas con tu hermana?And how do you get along with your sister?
- JavierMuy bien, quiero a mi hermana.Very well, I love my sister.
- MaríaEso es muy lindo, Javier.That is very sweet, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, hermana, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
