tu hermana
/tu eɾmana/from spelling rules
To say "your sister" in Spanish, use tu hermana.
This phrase refers to the female sibling of the person being addressed.
Which one should you use?
tu hermana is used when addressing someone as tú, which is common with friends, family or peers. In contrast, su hermana is used when addressing someone as usted, which is used for formal or respectful situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say "your sisters", you must pluralize both the possessive adjective and the noun, resulting in tus hermanas. Use su hermana instead of tu hermana when speaking to someone using the formal usted form.
How do you pronounce it?
/tu eɾmana/
Did you know?
- The word hermana shares its roots with the English word 'germane', which refers to things being closely related or relevant.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, referring to a woman as hermana or hermanita is a common way to address a stranger or an acquaintance with affection, even if there is no blood relation.
- If you use the term hermana in a religious context, you are likely referring to a member of a convent or a nun, rather than a sibling.
Examples in context
- Yo soy tu hermana.I'm your sister.This sentence demonstrates the use of tu hermana to identify oneself.Tatoeba #1982877 by marcelostockle, translation #1979740 by CM
- ¿Cómo es tu hermana?What is your sister like?This sentence uses tu hermana to ask about a person's character or appearance.Tatoeba #6164921 by cls, translation #6164923 by cls
- ¿Tu hermana vive ahí?Does your sister live there?This sentence uses tu hermana to ask about a person's place of residence.Tatoeba #3035253 by marcelostockle, translation #1774493 by Amastan
- Disculpe, ¿cómo está su hermana?Excuse me, how is your sister doing?
- Oye, ¿qué ha hecho tu hermana últimamente?Hey, what has your sister been up to lately?
- ¿Le puedo prestar un libro a vuestra hermana?Can I lend a book to your sister?
- 73 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are talking about a family party.
- María¿Cuándo viene tu hermana a la fiesta?When is your sister coming to the party?
- JavierElla llega mañana por la tarde.She arrives tomorrow afternoon.
- MaríaMe cae muy bien tu hermana.I really like your sister.
- JavierGracias, ella también te quiere.Thanks, she likes you too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermana, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
