tia
/ˈt͡ʃi.ɐ/
tia is the Portuguese word for aunt.
tia refers to a sister of one's father or mother, or the wife of one's uncle. It is the most common and standard way to address your aunt.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈtʃi.ɐ/.
Did you know?
- The term tia is frequently used by children to address their mother's female friends or teachers in a preschool setting.
- The word tia originates from the Ancient Greek word theía.
- In some Brazilian contexts, calling a woman tia can be an unintended insult if she is sensitive about her age.
Examples in context
- Minha tia mora em Lisboa.My aunt lives in Lisbon.
- A tia da Maria é muito gentil.Maria's aunt is very kind.
- Vou visitar minha tia no domingo.I am going to visit my aunt on Sunday.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Beatriz are talking about a family gathering.
- GabrielVocê vai à festa da sua tia?Are you going to your aunt's party?
- BeatrizSim, a minha tia fez um bolo.Yes, my aunt made a cake.
- GabrielQue bom, ela é uma ótima cozinheira.That's good, she is a great cook.
- BeatrizCom certeza, ela é incrível.Definitely, she is amazing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
