Talking About Relationships in Spanish

This section explains Talking About Relationships in Spanish. These revision notes cover both foundation and higher-tier examples for talking about relationships in Spanish, including family, friends, and romantic relationships. The vocabulary and examples will help you describe various aspects of relationships, from positive feelings and close bonds to conflicts and arguments.

Talking About Family Relationships

• Foundation Tier:
  • Describing Family Relationships
    • Me llevo bien con... = I get on well with...
    • No me llevo bien con... = I don’t get on well with...
    • Tengo una buena relación con... = I have a good relationship with...
    • Example: Me llevo muy bien con mi madre = I get on very well with my mother.
    • Example: No me llevo bien con mi primo = I don’t get on well with my cousin.
  • Talking About Siblings
    • Tengo un hermano/a = I have a brother/sister
    • Mi hermano/a es... = My brother/sister is...
    • Nos llevamos bien/mal = We get on well/badly
    • Example: Tengo una hermana y nos llevamos bien = I have a sister and we get on well.
    • Example: Mi hermano es muy molesto = My brother is very annoying.
  • Talking About Parents
    • Mis padres son... = My parents are...
    • Mi madre/padre es... = My mother/father is...
    • Example: Mis padres son muy trabajadores = My parents are very hardworking.
    • Example: Mi madre es muy cariñosa = My mother is very affectionate.
• Higher Tier:
  • Describing Close Family Relationships
    • Tengo una relación muy cercana con... = I have a very close relationship with...
    • Nos apoyamos mucho = We support each other a lot
    • Siempre nos entendemos = We always understand each other
    • Example: Tengo una relación muy cercana con mi padre, siempre me apoya = I have a very close relationship with my father, he always supports me.
    • Example: Nos apoyamos mucho, sobre todo cuando tenemos problemas = We support each other a lot, especially when we have problems.
  • Describing Difficult Family Relationships
    • A veces discutimos sobre... = Sometimes we argue about...
    • No me entiendo bien con... = I don’t get on well with...
    • Example: A veces discutimos sobre las tareas domésticas = Sometimes we argue about the housework.
    • Example: No me entiendo bien con mi hermano porque siempre quiere tener la razón = I don’t get on well with my brother because he always wants to be right.
  • Talking About Arguments and Conflicts
    • Tenemos muchas discusiones = We have a lot of arguments
    • Nunca estamos de acuerdo en... = We never agree on...
    • Example: Mi hermana y yo tenemos muchas discusiones, especialmente sobre el ordenador = My sister and I have many arguments, especially about the computer.
    • Example: Nunca estamos de acuerdo en cómo organizar la casa = We never agree on how to organise the house.

Talking About Friendships

• Foundation Tier:
  • Describing a Friend
    • Mi mejor amigo/a se llama... = My best friend is called...
    • Es muy... = He/She is very...
    • Es una persona... = He/She is a person who is...
    • Example: Mi mejor amiga se llama Laura y es muy divertida = My best friend is called Laura and she is very fun.
    • Example: Mi amigo es muy inteligente y siempre me ayuda = My friend is very intelligent and always helps me.
  • What You Do with Friends
    • Nos gusta... = We like...
    • Vamos a... = We go to...
    • Pasamos mucho tiempo juntos/as = We spend a lot of time together
    • Example: Nos gusta ir al cine los fines de semana = We like going to the cinema on weekends.
    • Example: Pasamos mucho tiempo juntos jugando al fútbol = We spend a lot of time together playing football.
  • Describing Friendship
    • Es mi amigo/a desde hace... = He/She has been my friend for...
    • Es una persona en quien confío = He/She is a person I trust
    • Example: Es mi amigo desde hace tres años = He has been my friend for three years.
    • Example: Es una persona en quien confío mucho = He/She is a person I trust a lot.
• Higher Tier:
  • Describing a Close Friendship
    • Tengo una amistad muy especial con... = I have a very special friendship with...
    • Es mi amigo/a más cercano/a = He/She is my closest friend
    • Es alguien en quien confío completamente = He/She is someone I trust completely
    • Example: Tengo una amistad muy especial con mi amiga Carla. Es mi amiga más cercana = I have a very special friendship with my friend Carla. She is my closest friend.
    • Example: Es alguien en quien confío completamente, siempre está ahí para mí = He/She is someone I trust completely, he/she is always there for me.
  • Describing the Importance of Friends
    • Los amigos son muy importantes para mí = Friends are very important to me
    • Me apoyan cuando tengo problemas = They support me when I have problems
    • Siempre están ahí para mí = They are always there for me
    • Example: Los amigos son muy importantes para mí porque me apoyan cuando tengo problemas = Friends are very important to me because they support me when I have problems.
    • Example: Siempre están ahí para mí, incluso en los momentos difíciles = They are always there for me, even in difficult times.
  • What You Do with Friends
    • Nos gusta hacer... = We like doing...
    • Disfrutamos de... = We enjoy...
    • Pasamos el tiempo haciendo... = We spend time doing...
    • Example: Nos gusta hacer deporte juntos = We like doing sports together.
    • Example: Disfrutamos de salir a caminar por la ciudad = We enjoy going for walks around the city.

Describing Relationships with Partners

• Foundation Tier:
  • Talking About a Relationship
    • Tengo novio/a = I have a boyfriend/girlfriend
    • Estamos juntos/as = We are together
    • Me gusta mucho = I like him/her a lot
    • Example: Tengo novia, se llama Clara = I have a girlfriend, her name is Clara.
    • Example: Estamos juntos desde hace seis meses = We have been together for six months.
  • Describing Feelings About a Partner
    • Me siento feliz con... = I feel happy with...
    • Me preocupa que... = I am worried that...
    • Confío en él/ella = I trust him/her
    • Example: Me siento feliz con mi novio = I feel happy with my boyfriend.
    • Example: Confío mucho en mi pareja = I trust my partner a lot.
• Higher Tier:
  • Describing a Close Relationship with a Partner
    • Mi relación con... es muy sólida = My relationship with... is very strong
    • Nos entendemos perfectamente = We understand each other perfectly
    • Me apoya en todo lo que hago = He/She supports me in everything I do
    • Example: Mi relación con mi pareja es muy sólida. Nos entendemos perfectamente = My relationship with my partner is very strong. We understand each other perfectly.
    • Example: Mi pareja me apoya en todo lo que hago = My partner supports me in everything I do.
  • Talking About Problems in a Relationship
    • A veces discutimos sobre... = Sometimes we argue about...
    • Tenemos que aprender a... = We have to learn to...
    • Example: A veces discutimos sobre tonterías, pero siempre nos reconciliamos = Sometimes we argue about silly things, but we always make up.
    • Example: Tenemos que aprender a comunicarnos mejor = We have to learn to communicate better.

Key Vocabulary

• Family Vocabulary
  • Hermano/a = Brother/Sister
  • Primo/a = Cousin
  • Tío/a = Uncle/Aunt
  • Abuelos = Grandparents
  • Padres = Parents
  • Hijos = Children
  • Suegro/a = Father-in-law/Mother-in-law
• Friendship Vocabulary
  • Amigo/a = Friend
  • Mejor amigo/a = Best friend
  • Confianza = Trust
  • Apoyo = Support
  • Discutir = To argue
  • Reconciliarse = To make up
• Relationship Vocabulary
  • Novio/a = Boyfriend/Girlfriend
  • Pareja = Partner
  • Amor = Love
  • Confianza = Trust
  • Comprensión = Understanding
  • Apoyo = Support