How Do You Say Sisters In Spanish? | Real Talk, Real Phrases

“Sisters” in Spanish is hermanas; one sister is hermana, and “my sisters” is mis hermanas.

You’re here for one word, then you want to actually use it without sounding stiff. Good news: Spanish makes this easy once you lock in two forms—singular and plural—and learn the small add-ons people use in real sentences.

Start with the core pair: hermana (one sister) and hermanas (sisters). From there, you’ll add articles (la, las), possessives (mi, mis), and a few family-style nicknames.

What “Hermana” And “Hermanas” Mean

Hermana names a female sibling. Hermanas is the plural form for two or more sisters. You’ll see both used for literal family ties and as a friendly way to talk to someone you’re close with, depending on place and context.

If you want a dictionary-backed definition, the Real Academia Española lists the base entry and usage under “hermano, na” in the Diccionario de la lengua española. That page is helpful when you want the formal meaning, synonyms, and notes on sense.

Singular Vs. Plural In One Glance

Spanish marks number cleanly here:

• hermana = one sister
• hermanas = sisters

This pair follows standard plural patterns. If you like seeing the rule laid out from a grammar source, the RAE’s grammar section on plural formation (-s and -es) shows how Spanish typically builds plurals.

How Do You Say Sisters In Spanish? In Daily Speech

In daily talk, you won’t say the noun alone all that often. Most of the time, it comes with a short partner word that tells the listener which sisters you mean.

Using “The” With Sisters

Spanish uses articles more than English does. So you’ll hear:

• la hermana = the sister
• las hermanas = the sisters

These fit when the sisters are already known in the conversation. You might also use them when talking about people in your family as a group, like “the sisters are coming later.”

Using “My/Your/Their” With Sisters

Possessives do a lot of heavy lifting in Spanish family talk. These are the ones you’ll use most:

• mi hermana = my sister
• mis hermanas = my sisters
• tu hermana = your sister (informal)
• tus hermanas = your sisters (informal)
• su hermana = his/her/your(formal) sister
• sus hermanas = his/her/your(formal)/their sisters

If you want a reliable grammar inventory that lists these forms and the number changes (mi → mis, tu → tus, su → sus), the Centro Virtual Cervantes keeps a clear outline in its A1–A2 grammar inventory (possessives section).

Pronunciation That Stops Misunderstandings

You can write hermana perfectly and still get a blank stare if the “h” trips you up. In Spanish, the h is silent. So hermana starts with an “air” sound: er-MA-na. For hermanas, add a clean final “s”: er-MA-nas.

Stress And Rhythm

Both words naturally stress the middle syllable: her-MA-na, her-MA-nas. Keep the vowels crisp. Spanish vowels don’t slide around the way English vowels can.

A Quick Mouth Test

Say this slowly, then speed it up:

• mi hermana
• mis hermanas

That pair drills the two most common shapes you’ll use in real conversation.

Common Phrases People Actually Use

Once you know the base word, your next move is learning the phrases that come up in introductions, family stories, and casual chat. Here’s a broad set you can copy and tweak.

Spanish Phrase	Natural English Meaning	When It Fits
mi hermana	my sister	Introducing one sister or mentioning her in a story
mis hermanas	my sisters	Talking about two or more sisters together
tus hermanas	your sisters	Asking about someone’s sisters (informal “you”)
sus hermanas	his/her/their sisters	When “su/sus” is clear from context, or you name the person
la hermana mayor	the older sister	Clarifying birth order
la hermana menor	the younger sister	Clarifying birth order
hermanas gemelas	twin sisters	Describing twins (plural adjective agrees)
hermanita	little sister / sis (affectionate)	Warm, family tone; also used playfully with close friends
mis hermanas y yo	my sisters and I	Talking about a group that includes you

Choosing Between “Su” And A Clearer Option

Su hermana and sus hermanas can mean his, her, your (formal), or their. Spanish speakers often make it clear by naming the person or using a phrase with de.

Clearer Ways To Say “His/Her/Their Sisters”

• las hermanas de Ana = Ana’s sisters
• las hermanas de él = his sisters
• las hermanas de ella = her sisters
• las hermanas de ellos = their sisters (group of men or mixed group)
• las hermanas de ellas = their sisters (group of women)

This style sounds normal and often reduces confusion, especially in longer stories with lots of family members.

When “Hermanos” Includes Sisters Too

This is where many learners get tripped up. In Spanish, the masculine plural can cover mixed groups. So hermanos may mean “brothers,” or “siblings” in a mixed group. If a family has sisters and brothers, people may still say somos tres hermanos to mean “we’re three siblings.”

How To Say “Siblings” Without Guesswork

If you want to avoid that ambiguity, you can say hermanos y hermanas (brothers and sisters) or use a neutral family phrase like mis hermanos with a quick clarification right after. What sounds best depends on the sentence and who you’re talking to.

Polite Introductions And Small Talk With Sisters

Spanish introductions often feel more direct than English ones. You can keep it friendly and simple with short lines you can reuse.

Introducing One Sister

• Ella es mi hermana. = This is my sister.
• Mi hermana se llama Rosa. = My sister’s name is Rosa.
• Vivo con mi hermana. = I live with my sister.

Introducing Sisters As A Group

• Ellas son mis hermanas. = These are my sisters.
• Mis hermanas viven cerca. = My sisters live nearby.
• Salgo con mis hermanas. = I go out with my sisters.

If you want practice that stays on-topic (family words and kinship terms), the Centro Virtual Cervantes has classroom material for family vocabulary at “La familia. Parentesco”.

Affectionate Variations And Tone

Spanish has a big “tone layer.” The base noun is neutral. Diminutives and add-ons change the vibe fast.

Common Affectionate Options

• hermanita = affectionate “little sister” (also used for younger sisters)
• hermana querida = dear sister (warm, often in writing)
• mi hermana mayor = my older sister (neutral, factual)

Diminutives can be tender, teasing, or both. Use them once you’ve heard the tone in the group you’re speaking with.

Regional Notes That Change What You Hear

Spanish is one language with many local habits. The core word hermana(s) stays steady across regions. What shifts is what people add around it.

Addressing Someone Like A Sister

In some places, people call a close friend hermana as a sign of closeness. In other places, that can sound overly intimate unless you truly mean it. If you’re not sure, stick with the person’s name or a neutral friendly term.

Talking About Religious Sisters

“Sister” in a religious sense is often hermana too, usually paired with a title or context that makes it clear. If your sentence is about family, your listener will assume family unless you signal otherwise.

Quick Picks For Real Situations

When you’re speaking on the fly, you don’t want to build a sentence from scratch. Use this as a grab-and-go set of choices.

Situation	Best Spanish Phrase	Small Tip
You have one sister	Tengo una hermana.	Use una with a count
You have two or more sisters	Tengo dos hermanas.	Number + plural noun
You’re introducing your sisters	Ellas son mis hermanas.	Ellas points to a group of women
Asking about someone’s sisters	¿Tienes hermanas?	Short and natural
You mean “Ana’s sisters”	Las hermanas de Ana.	Avoids su confusion
You mean “my sisters and I”	Mis hermanas y yo…	Start the sentence cleanly
You mean “older sister”	Mi hermana mayor.	Mayor = older, not “bigger”
You mean “younger sister”	Mi hermana menor.	Menor = younger

Mini Practice That Makes It Stick

If you can say these three lines smoothly, you’ll cover most day-to-day needs:

1. Tengo una hermana. (I have one sister.)
2. Tengo dos hermanas. (I have two sisters.)
3. Ellas son mis hermanas. (These are my sisters.)

Say each one out loud three times. Keep the “h” silent. Keep the stress on -MA-. Then swap in names: Mi hermana se llama… Small repetition beats long study sessions here.

A Fast Self-Check Before You Use It

Run this quick check and you’ll dodge the common slips:

• If it’s one sister, you need hermana, not hermanas.
• If it’s more than one, you need hermanas, and your possessive should match: mis, tus, sus.
• If su/sus could point to more than one person, switch to de + name.
• If you’re saying it out loud, keep the “h” silent and hit -MA-.