mi sobrina
/mi sobɾina/from spelling rules
The English phrase "my niece" is mi sobrina in Spanish.
Use mi sobrina to refer to the daughter of your brother or sister.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mi (my) and sobrina (niece).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "my nieces" in the plural, you must pluralize both the possessive adjective and the noun to mis sobrinas.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi sobɾina/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term sobrina is often used affectionately for much younger female relatives or even close family friends who are not biologically related. It functions more as a term of endearment than a strict genealogical marker.
- While 'niece' is gender-specific, if you are talking about a group of nieces and nephews together, you must switch to the masculine plural mis sobrinos. In Spanish, a mixed-gender group always defaults to the masculine form.
- The word sobrina comes from the Latin sobrīna, which historically described a relative from the side of one's parents. This connection traces back to a much older system of defining kinship through specific branches of a family tree.
Examples in context
- Mary es mi sobrina.Mary's my niece.Tatoeba #2225389 by Shishir, translation #1841597 by CK
- Mi sobrina es una niña seria.My niece is a serious girl.Tatoeba #1349402 by marcelostockle, translation #682004 by Source_VOA
- Mi sobrina es un as a este juego.My niece is an ace at this game.Tatoeba #10239410 by Seael, translation #10248616 by LimeGreenTeknii
- Hola, te presento a mi sobrina, María.Hello, let me introduce you to my niece, María.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at photos on a phone.
- Javier¿Es esta tu hija?Is this your daughter?
- MaríaNo, es mi sobrina.No, she is my niece.
- Javier¡Qué linda es tu sobrina!Your niece is so cute!
- MaríaMuchas gracias, Javier.Thank you very much, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mi, sobrina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
