pariente más cercano
/paɾjente mas θeɾkano/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'nearest relative' is translated into Spanish as pariente más cercano.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pariente (relative), más (more) and cercano (close/near).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'nearest relatives', both the noun and the adjective must be pluralized: parientes más cercanos.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾjente mas θeɾkano/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use pariente to mean 'parent', but it actually means 'relative'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the concept of parientes extends to 'compadres' or godparents, who are treated as nearest relatives despite having no blood tie.
- The word más comes from the Latin magis and is a distant relative of the English word 'master' via the Latin magister.
- To distinguish between blood relatives and relatives by marriage, Spanish speakers may use pariente consanguíneo for the former.
Examples in context
- Mi pariente más cercano vive en BarcelonaMy nearest relative lives in Barcelona
- Es necesario informar a su familiar más próximo sobre su condición médicaIt's necessary to inform your nearest relative about your medical condition
- Mañana iré al médico con mi familiar más cercanoI will go to the doctor with my nearest relative tomorrow
- Él es mi pariente más cercano.He is my nearest relative.
- ¿Quién es tu pariente más cercano?Who is your nearest relative?
- Debemos contactar a su pariente más cercano.We must contact his nearest relative.
Example conversation
Lucía is filling out an emergency contact form at a clinic.
- LucíaAquí debo poner a mi pariente más cercano.I should put my nearest relative here.
- Javier¿No tienes a nadie más cerca, Lucía?Don't you have anyone closer, Lucía?
- LucíaMi hermano es mi pariente más cercano ahora.My brother is my nearest relative now.
- JavierEstá bien, anota su número de teléfono.That's fine, write down his phone number.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cercano, más, pariente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
