hermano menor
/eɾmano menoɾ/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "younger brother" is hermano menor.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
Which one should you use?
hermano menor specifically denotes a brother's position in the birth order (the younger one). In contrast, hermano pequeño is often used to imply that the brother is physically small or is a young child.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a group of younger brothers, or a mixed-gender group of younger siblings, use the plural form hermanos menores.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɾmano menoɾ/
Did you know?
- The English word 'germane', meaning relevant or closely related, shares the same Latin root as hermano, meaning 'brother'.
- In some Latin American cultures, the youngest brother is jokingly called el consentido because he is perceived as the most spoiled.
- In early Old Spanish, the word fradre was used for 'brother' before hermano became the standard term.
Examples in context
- Él es mi hermano menor.He's my younger brother.This sentence shows how to identify a person as your hermano menor.Tatoeba #989465 by hayastan, translation #511852 by CK
- John es mi hermano menor.John is my younger brother.This sentence identifies a specific person, John, as your hermano menor.Tatoeba #1993831 by marcelostockle, translation #52584 by CN
- ¿Cuánto mide tu hermano menor?How tall is your younger brother?This sentence demonstrates how to ask about the height of your hermano menor.Tatoeba #2053427 by wallebot, translation #9382459 by DJ_Saidez
- Por favor, déjame presentarte a mi hermano menor, Juan.Please allow me to introduce you to my younger brother, Juan.
- Ana es mi hermana pequeña. Juan es mi hermano pequeño.Ana is my little sister. Juan is my little brother.
- ¡Mira lo que hizo mi hermanito en el partido! Es muy talentoso.Look at what my little brother did in the game! He is very talented.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking about family during a coffee break.
- Mateo¿Tienes un hermano menor?Do you have a younger brother?
- MaríaSí, mi hermano menor vive en Madrid.Yes, my younger brother lives in Madrid.
- MateoQué bueno, ¿es estudiante?That's good, is he a student?
- MaríaNo, él ya trabaja.No, he already works.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermano, menor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
