His Sister in Spanish | Say It Right Every Time

“Su hermana” is the standard way to say “his sister” in Spanish, and “la hermana de él” clears up who you mean when “su” feels unclear.

You’ll see “his sister” show up in real conversations all the time: introductions, family updates, travel stories, wedding talk, even group chats. Spanish gives you a clean default, plus a couple of sharper options when the default feels fuzzy.

This article gives you the phrases people actually use, the grammar behind them, and the small tweaks that make your Spanish sound calm and clear.

His Sister in Spanish: Real-world phrases and grammar

The most common translation of “his sister” is su hermana. It’s short, normal, and you’ll hear it everywhere.

Su hermana can mean “his sister,” “her sister,” “your sister” (formal), or “their sister,” depending on context. Spanish uses su for several meanings, so clarity often comes from the rest of the sentence, the prior sentence, or the situation. The RAE explains the range of meanings for su and suyo and why context matters. RAE: “Definición. Rasgos gramaticales de los posesivos”

Start with the default

Use su hermana when the owner is already obvious.

• Su hermana vive en Madrid. (His sister lives in Madrid.)
• Su hermana es médica.
• Hoy viene su hermana.

Notice what Spanish is doing: the possessive agrees with nothing in gender here, while the noun carries the gender. In other words, su stays the same, and hermana tells you it’s a sister. The RAE’s usage guide lays out the forms and behavior of Spanish possessives in a straightforward way. RAE: “Los posesivos. Caracterización y formas”

When “su” feels unclear, switch to a clearer build

If there are multiple people in the conversation, su hermana can get murky fast. Spanish has a simple fix: use de + pronoun.

• La hermana de él = his sister
• La hermana de ella = her sister
• La hermana de ellos = their sister (masc. group or mixed group)
• La hermana de ellas = their sister (all women)
• La hermana de usted = your sister (formal)
• La hermana de ustedes = your sister (plural “you,” common in Latin America)

This looks a bit longer on the page, but it’s crystal clear when your listener is juggling names. The RAE notes that outside context, su can point to several meanings, while de él/de ella removes the guesswork. RAE: possessives and the meanings of “su/suyo”

Use “hermana” with confidence

Hermana is the everyday word for “sister.” If you want a quick check on meaning and usage, the RAE dictionary entry is handy. RAE DLE: “hermano, hermana”

In normal speech, people don’t pause to label the relationship type unless it matters. They’ll add details only when needed:

• su hermana mayor (his older sister)
• su hermana menor (his younger sister)
• su hermana gemela (his twin sister)
• su media hermana (his half-sister)

How to pick the right phrasing in a conversation

A good rule: if your listener can’t possibly mix up who “su” points to, use su hermana. If there’s any doubt, switch to la hermana de él (or the matching form).

Here are the moments where people often choose the longer form without thinking about it:

• You mentioned two men or two women in the last sentence.
• You’re telling a story with multiple family members.
• You’re introducing people for the first time.
• You’re writing, where the reader can’t hear your emphasis.

In speech, you can also make su feel clearer by adding the person’s name right away:

• Su hermana de Carlos trabaja aquí.
• La hermana de Carlos trabaja aquí.

That second option is often the cleanest: you skip su and just say la hermana de + name. It sounds natural and keeps the sentence light.

Common ways you’ll hear it in daily Spanish

To make this feel real, here are sentence patterns that show up in introductions, small talk, and texting. Swap in your own names as needed.

Introductions and family context

• Ella es su hermana. (She’s his sister.)
• Te presento a su hermana. (Let me introduce you to his sister.)
• Su hermana se llama Ana.
• La hermana de él se llama Ana.

Plans and invitations

• Hoy cena con su hermana.
• Va a viajar con su hermana este fin de semana.
• Invitó a su hermana a la fiesta.

Describing someone

• Su hermana es muy tranquila.
• Su hermana es más alta que él.
• La hermana de él habla tres idiomas.

You can keep building on the same frame with details: city, job, age, hobbies, anything. The structure stays stable, so your brain doesn’t have to juggle extra grammar while you speak.

Also, pay attention to the article. Spanish often uses la with family relations when you use de + person: la hermana de él, la hermana de Marta. With su, you typically don’t add an article: su hermana.

If you’re studying Spanish levels and want a formal view of how grammar topics get organized, the Instituto Cervantes Plan Curricular is a solid reference point for what’s taught across proficiency bands. Instituto Cervantes: Plan Curricular (Gramática A1–A2)

Table: Quick choices for “his sister” in Spanish

Use this table as a fast picker when you’re speaking or writing and want the cleanest option right away.

What you want to say	Spanish phrase	When it fits best
His sister (default)	su hermana	Context already makes “his” obvious
His sister (extra clear)	la hermana de él	Multiple people in the story
His sister + name	la hermana de Carlos	Best clarity with a person’s name
His older sister	su hermana mayor	Age order matters
His younger sister	su hermana menor	Age order matters
His twin sister	su hermana gemela	Specific relationship detail
His half-sister	su media hermana	When family structure is relevant
His sister-in-law	su cuñada	Different relation than “sister”

Small grammar notes that stop mix-ups

Most mistakes with “his sister” aren’t about vocabulary. They come from two things: how su works, and what the possessive is agreeing with.

“Su” points to the owner, not the noun’s shape

Spanish possessives carry the person of the owner (first, second, third), while the noun handles gender. That’s why it’s su hermana and su hermano, with the same su in both. The RAE’s reference pages on possessives walk through the forms and the logic behind them. RAE: possessive forms and agreement

Don’t overuse “suyo” with family relations

Suyo/suya is real Spanish, but it often sounds heavier than needed in this exact family context. In everyday talk, people usually pick su hermana or la hermana de él.

Where suyo shows up more naturally is when the noun is already known and you’re replacing it, often with an article:

• La hermana es suya. (The sister is his/hers/theirs.)
• La suya llegó tarde. (His/hers/theirs arrived late.)

These are correct, but they lean on context even more than su hermana. If you feel the listener might pause, use de él/de ella instead.

Regional and style notes you’ll actually notice

Spanish varies by region, but the core phrases for “his sister” stay stable across the Spanish-speaking world. You may notice differences in pronouns around it.

“Ustedes” vs “vosotros” doesn’t change “su hermana”

In much of Latin America, ustedes is the normal plural “you.” In Spain, vosotros often appears in casual plural “you.” None of that changes the basic phrasing for “his sister.” It mostly affects what you say when you mean “your sister” in plural conversation.

Texting shortcuts

In casual messages, people often drop extra words when the thread already sets the context:

• Viene su hermana.
• Estoy con su hermana ahora.

If the thread gets busy, they’ll snap back to the clearer option:

• Estoy con la hermana de él.

Table: Mistakes people make with “his sister” and clean fixes

This table targets the slips that show up when you speak fast or write quickly.

What goes wrong	What to say instead	Why it reads better
“Su hermana” feels unclear with many people mentioned	la hermana de él	Removes the “who owns su?” doubt
Overusing “suyo/suya” in normal family talk	su hermana	Smoother, more common in speech
Trying to mark “his” with a gendered possessive	su hermana (not a gendered “his”)	Spanish possessives don’t mark “his vs her”
Introducing someone and causing a split-second pause	Esta es la hermana de Carlos	Name-based clarity lands instantly
Writing a story where “su” could refer to multiple people	la hermana de él/de ella in key lines	Keeps the reader oriented without rereading
Mixing up “sister” and “sister-in-law”	hermana vs cuñada	Two different relationships, two nouns
Leaving “his sister” too vague in formal writing	la hermana de él or la hermana de [Nombre]	Reads precise and formal without sounding stiff

Practice lines you can reuse right away

Repeat these out loud a few times and you’ll feel the patterns stick. Keep the rhythm. That’s what makes it feel natural.

Short and easy

• Su hermana vive aquí.
• Hoy viene su hermana.
• Estoy con su hermana.

Clear when there are multiple people

• La hermana de él vive aquí.
• Hoy viene la hermana de él.
• Estoy con la hermana de él.

With a name

• La hermana de Luis vive aquí.
• Hoy viene la hermana de Luis.
• Estoy con la hermana de Luis.

If you can say those sets smoothly, you can handle almost any real situation that includes “his sister.” From there, add details the same way you’d do it in English: job, city, plans, a quick description.

One last check that saves confusion: if you’re writing and you spot two possible owners for su in the same paragraph, swap one or two of those instances to de él/de ella. It takes seconds and your reader won’t stumble.