tío

Regionalisms from Spain 
Phrasebook
PREMIUM
el tío(
tee
-
oh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. uncle
Mi tío se vistió de Papá Noel para la fiesta navideña.My uncle dressed up as Santa Claus for the Christmas party.
2.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(male)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
a. guy
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¿Viste al tío pidiendo limosna con traje de Armani? ¡Qué locura!Did you see the guy begging in the Armani suit? Madness!
b. dude
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
Oye, Paco, hay un tío en la puerta que dice ser tu hermano.Hey, Paco, there's a dude at the door claiming to be your brother.
c. bloke
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
Hay un tío en el mercado de pescado que vende un bacalao riquísimo.There's a bloke at the fish market who sells a delicious cod.
3.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(form of address)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
a. pal
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
¡Oye, tío! No le hables así a mi esposa.Hey, pal! Don't talk to my wife like that.
b. dude
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
¡Oye, tío! Se te cayó la cartera.Hey, dude! You dropped your billfold.
c. mate
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
¡Mira, tío! Ya te pagué. O me das la mercancía o llamaré a la poli.Look, mate! I already paid you. Either you give me the merchandise, or I'll call the cops.
los tíos
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
a. aunt and uncle (couple)
A Adela la criaron sus tíos porque se quedó huérfana a edad muy temprana.Adela was raised by her aunt and uncle because she was orphaned at an early age.
b. uncle and aunt (couple)
Voy a pasarme el verano a la casa de mis tíos.I'm going to spend the summer at my uncle and aunt's house.
5.
A word or phrase used to refer to a group including masculine words or both masculine and feminine words (e.g., bienvenidos).
(masculine or mixed gender)
(used to refer to several relatives)
a. aunts and uncles
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
(plural)
(mixed gender)
Todos los tíos de Ramona fueron a su fiesta de cumpleaños.All of Ramona's aunts and uncles went to her birthday party.
b. uncles and aunts
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
(plural)
(mixed gender)
Tengo un montón de tíos y primos.I have a ton of uncles and aunts and cousins.
c. uncles
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
(masculine)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
(plural)
¿Quiénes son esos tres ahí? - Son mis tíos por parte de madre.Who are those three there? - They're my uncles on my mom's side.
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