Chapter 9: Family and Close Circle
Spanish
Argentine Spanish Level A0-A1
🎯 CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After completing this chapter you will be able to:
- ✅ Learn the Spanish equivalents of family members
- ✅ Describe the circle of friends and close relationships
- ✅ Use possessive pronouns (mi, tu, su)
- ✅ Have simple conversations about family
- ✅ Know about Argentine family culture
- ✅ Communicate about family topics using vos
👨👩👧👦 9.1. Family Member Vocabulary
👪 Nuclear Family
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| la familia | family | fa-MI-lya | Mi familia es grande |
| los padres | parents | PA-dres | Mis padres son porteños |
| el padre/papá | father/dad | PA-dre/pa-PA | Mi papá trabaja en el centro |
| la madre/mamá | mother/mom | MA-dre/ma-MA | Mamá hace empanadas |
| el hijo | son | I-ho | Su hijo estudia medicina |
| la hija | daughter | I-ha | Mi hija tiene 15 años |
| el hermano | brother | er-MA-no | Mi hermano vive en Palermo |
| la hermana | sister | er-MA-na | Su hermana es re linda |
| los hermanos | siblings | er-MA-nos | Mis hermanos son gemelos |
👴👵 Grandparents
| Spanish | English | Affectionate Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| el abuelo | grandfather | abuelito | Mi abuelito toma mate |
| la abuela | grandmother | abuelita | La abuelita hace milanesas |
| los abuelos | grandparents | - | Mis abuelos viven en Flores |
🇦🇷 Special Use in Argentina:
- "Don/Doña" is added to elders as an expression of respect
- "Mi nono/nona" (Italian-origin affectionate expression)
🏠 Extended Family
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Example Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| el tío | uncle | TI-o | Mi tío es hincha de Boca |
| la tía | aunt | TI-a | Tía Carmen viene los domingos |
| el primo | male cousin | PRI-mo | Mi primo juega al fútbol |
| la prima | female cousin | PRI-ma | Su prima estudia abogacía |
| el nieto | grandson | NYE-to | El abuelo adora a su nieto |
| la nieta | granddaughter | NYE-ta | La nieta baila folclore |
| el sobrino | nephew | so-BRI-no | Mi sobrino es re travieso |
| la sobrina | niece | so-BRI-na | Su sobrina toca guitarra |
👥 9.2. Circle of Friends
🤝 Degrees of Friendship
| Spanish | English | Degree of Closeness | Buenos Aires Slang |
|---|---|---|---|
| el amigo | male friend | Close | che, mi pibe |
| la amiga | female friend | Close | che, mi piba |
| el mejor amigo | best friend | Very close | hermano del alma |
| el conocido | acquaintance | Distant | - |
| el compañero | friend (school/work) | Medium | compañero de laburo |
| el vecino | neighbor | Variable | el vecino de al lado |
💕 Romantic Relationships
| Spanish | English | Description | Argentine Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| el novio | boyfriend | Serious relationship | "Mi novio es re bueno" |
| la novia | girlfriend | Serious relationship | "Su novia es hermosa" |
| la pareja | couple | Relationship | "Son una pareja bárbara" |
| el marido | husband | Married | "Mi marido trabaja en Tribunales" |
| la mujer/esposa | wife | Married | "Mi mujer cocina re bien" |
🗣️ Buenos Aires Street Language
Ways to Address Friends:
- Che, flaco/flaca = Hey buddy
- Boludo/boluda = Dude (among close friends)
- Pibe/piba = Kid/young person (affectionate)
- Hermano/hermana = Brother/sister (very close friend)
Use with Vos:
- "Che, ¿vos sos mi amigo?" (Hey, are you my friend?)
- "Vos sos mi hermano del alma" (You are my soul brother)
🏠 9.3. Possession: "Mi/Tu/Su"
📝 Possessive Pronouns Table
| Person | Singular | Plural | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | mi | mis | mi casa, mis padres |
| vos | tu | tus | tu familia, tus hermanos |
| él/ella/usted | su | sus | su hijo, sus abuelos |
| nosotros/as | nuestro/a | nuestros/as | nuestro barrio |
| ustedes | su | sus | su escuela, sus familias |
⚠️ Important Notes
1. Mi, Tu, Su - Don't Change:
- mi padre / mi madre (gender doesn't matter)
- tu hermano / tu hermana (doesn't change)
- su hijo / su hija (stays the same)
2. Nuestro - Gender Agreement:
- nuestro padre (masculine)
- nuestra madre (feminine)
- nuestros hijos (masculine plural)
- nuestras hijas (feminine plural)
🇦🇷 Possession with Vos - Argentine Examples
Daily Dialogues:
- "¿Dónde está tu familia?" (Where is your family?)
- "Tu hermana es re copada" (Your sister is really cool)
- "Tus viejos son bárbaros" (Your parents are awesome - slang)
In Mate Culture:
- "¿Tu familia toma mate?" (Does your family drink mate?)
- "En mi casa siempre hay mate" (At my house there's always mate)
💬 9.4. Talking About Family
🎯 Basic Structures
Family Introduction Formula
Mi/Su + family member + se llama + name
Examples:
- Mi mamá se llama Carmen
- Su hermano se llama Diego
- Mi abuelita se llama Rosa
Family Characteristics - With SER
Mi/Su + family member + es/son + adjective/profession
Examples:
- Mi papá es ingeniero
- Su hermana es muy simpática
- Mis abuelos son porteños
Temporary Situations - With ESTAR
Mi/Su + family member + está/están + situation
Examples:
- Mi mamá está trabajando
- Su hermano está en la facultad
- Mis tíos están de viaje
Expressing Age - With TENER
Family member + tiene/tienen + age + años
Examples:
- Mi hermana tiene 20 años
- Su abuelito tiene 75 años
- Mis primos tienen 15 y 17 años
🗣️ Argentine Daily Language
Family Slang:
- Mis viejos = My parents
- Mi vieja = My mother
- Mi viejo = My father
- Los pibes = The kids
- El nene/la nena = The child (small)
Terms of Endearment:
- Mi amor = My love
- Mi vida = My life
- Mi cielo = My heaven
- Gordo/gorda = Fatty (term of endearment)
💭 Practical Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Family Introduction
- A: ¿Cómo es tu familia?
- B: Somos cuatro. Mis viejos, mi hermana y yo.
- A: ¿Y a qué se dedican?
- B: Mi viejo es contador y mi vieja es maestra.
Dialogue 2: Family Questions with Vos
- A: ¿Vos tenés hermanos?
- B: Sí, tengo una hermana mayor.
- A: ¿Y cómo se llama?
- B: Se llama Lucía y vive en San Telmo.
🇦🇷 9.5. Argentine Family Culture
👑 Family: The Highest Value
In Argentine society, family always comes before individual interests. Family bonds are extremely strong and considered more important than personal success.
Basic Characteristics:
- Extended family networks: Beyond the nuclear family
- Mutual support: Financial and emotional support system
- Respect for elders: Grandparent-centered structure
- Love for children: Children are the most valuable members
📅 Sunday Tradition: "Domingo en Familia"
🕐 12:00-14:00: Almuerzo Familiar
- The whole family gathers at grandma's house
- Asado (barbecue) is the most popular meal
- Mate circulates constantly
- Football match is watched
Typical Sunday Menu:
- Entrada: Picada (cheese, ham, salame)
- Principal: Asado con ensalada
- Postre: Flan o dulce de leche
- Bebida: Mate, vino tinto
Example Sunday Conversation:
- "Nona, ¿necesitás ayuda con el asado?"
- "No, gordo, vos sentate y tomá mate"
- "¿A qué hora viene el tío Carlos?"
- "Ya debe estar llegando con los primos"
🧉 Mate and Family Bonds
Mate Circle - La Ronda:
- Heart of family gatherings
- Circulates in order (clockwise)
- Cebador (mate maker) is usually the host
- Center of conversation
Mate Rules:
- Saying "gracias" means you're done
- First mate always belongs to the cebador
- It's normal to ask for sugar
- Sharing mate shows intimacy
🎉 Family Celebrations
📅 Quinceañera (15th Birthday):
- Most important day for girls
- Big family celebration
- Waltz dance tradition
- Godparent system
🎂 Birthdays:
- Every age is celebrated
- "Que los cumplas feliz" song
- Cake and dulce de leche
- Kisses and hugs
Celebration Expressions:
- "¡Feliz cumpleaños!"
- "Que los cumplas muy feliz"
- "¡Felicitaciones!"
- "¡Que tengas un día bárbaro!"
🏠 Family Home Culture
Casa de la Nona (Grandma's House):
- Center of family gatherings
- Always food ready
- Open door policy
- Sweets and mate never missing
Typical Grandma Phrases:
- "¿Ya comiste?" (Did you eat already?)
- "Llevate para casa" (Take some home)
- "Sos muy flaco" (You're too skinny)
- "Vení cuando quieras" (Come whenever you want)