Key points about describing relationships in Spanish
Use Formed in the same way as regular ar/er/ir verbs but includes a reflexive pronoun (eg me, te, se). Often used to describe actions that we do to ourselves. with A pronoun used with a reflexive verb, for example myself, yourself and himself. to describe daily routine as well as relationships with others.
Vocabulary – Describing relationships
Useful verbs for talking about family relationships includes:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| amar | to love |
| compartir | to share |
| discutir | to argue/ discuss |
| llorar | to cry |
| llevarse bien/mal con | to get on well/badly with |
| luchar | to fight |
| respetar | to respect |
| separarse | to separate/ split up |
For example:
Me llevo bien con mi hermano menor. – I get on well with my younger brother.
No me llevo bien con mi hermana. – I don’t get on well with my sister.
Comparto todo con mi hermana. – I share everything with my sister.
Mis padres se han separado. – My parents have separated.
Grammar – How to use reflexive verbs
Reflexive verbs are often used to describe actions that we do to ourselves. They are particularly useful when talking about daily routine.
For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to go to bed
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to wake up
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to get dressed
Reflexive verbs are also used for talking about relationships with other people.
For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to communicate with
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to get on well
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to relate to
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to fight/argue
How to form reflexive verbs using reflexive pronouns
Reflexive verbs are formed in the same way as regular ar, er and ir verbs but include a reflexive pronoun, eg me, te and se).
In the Form of the verb that has not been conjugated. Usually translated with 'to' in English, eg to play. form the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the infinitive.
For example:
- llevarse – to get on
In the A verb that describes an action that is happening now or that happens regularly, eg I eat breakfast., the reflexive pronoun comes before the verb and changes according to the person.
For example:
me llevo - I get on
nos llevamos - we get on
The table shows how the verb llevarse is A verb that is not in the infinitive form but has been changed to match the subject of the verb, for example I go, he goes.:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I get on |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you get on |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she gets on |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we get on |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (pl) get on |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they get on |
Find out more about reflexive verbs in the Reflexive verbs in the present tense in Spanish guide.
Reflexive pronouns - Mini quiz
Complete the following sentences with the correct reflexive pronoun.
_______ bien con mi hermana.
I get on well with my sister.
infinitive = llevarse
Me llevo bien con mi hermana.
Use the reflexive pronoun me for the ‘I’ form with this reflexive verb, llevarse.
________ la semana próxima.
He is getting married next week.
infinitive = casarse
Se casa.
Use the reflexive pronoun se for the ‘he’ form with this reflexive verb, casarse.
________ mucho.
They fight a lot.
infinitive = pelearse
Se pelean.
Use the reflexive pronoun se for the ‘they’ form with this reflexive verb, pelearse.
________ bien.
We communicate well.
infinitive = comunicarse
Nos comunicamos bien.
Use the reflexive pronoun nos for the ‘we’ form with this reflexive er verb, comunicarse.
Find out more about using reflexive pronouns in the Reflexive pronouns in Spanish guide.
Listening practice
Listen to Alejandro talking about his family relationships and answer the questions below.
- What sort of person is Alejandro?
| A | cheerful |
| B | positive |
| C | angry |
The answer is B.
Alejandro says siempre he sido una persona muy positiva - I have always been a very tolerant person.
- What does Alejandro's brother do every day?
| A | insults him |
| B | makes fun of him |
| C | shouts at him |
The answer is C.
Alejandro says: …me grita todos los días. - …he shouts at me every day.
- What sort of person is Alejandro's brother?
| A | angry |
| B | clever |
| C | selfish |
The answer is C.
Alejandro says that his brother is angry (enfadado).
- What else does Alejandro say about his relationship with his brother?
| A | they share a bedroom |
| B | they have nothing in common |
| C | they get on well |
The answer is A.
Alejandro says: …tenemos que compartir un dormitorio. - …we have to share a bedroom.
Click or tap on Show more to see the full transcript and translation.
Transcript:
Tengo 15 años, vivo con mis padres y mi hermano mayor. Tiene dos años más que yo. Siempre he sido una persona muy positiva pero no nos relacionamos bien. Siempre hace lo que quiere. Nunca me escucha y me grita todos los días. En mi opinión, mi hermano es una persona difícil y enfadada. No nos comunicamos bien y es una pena porque tenemos que compartir el dormitorio.
Translation:
I am 15 years old, I live with my parents and my older brother. He is two years older than me. I have always been a very positive person but we don’t relate well to each other. He always does what he wants. He never listens to me and shouts at me every day. In my opinion, my brother is a difficult and angry person. We don't communicate well and it's a shame because we have to share a bedroom.
Vocabulary – Identity and relationships
Useful adjectives to talk about gender, sexuality and relationship status include:
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| bi(sexual) | bisexual | lesbiana | lesbian |
| casado/a | married | no binario/a | non-binary |
| gay | gay | soltero/a | single, unmarried |
| hetero(sexual) | straight, heterosexual | transgénero | transgender man / woman |
For example:
Mi hermana mayor es no binaria. – My older sister is non-binary.
Mi hermano es gay. – My brother is gay.
Tengo un amigo transgénero. – I have a transgender friend.
Relationships
Useful nouns related to relationship status include:
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| el amor | love | la identidad | identity |
| el cariño | affection/ love | el novio | boyfriend |
| la mujer | woman, wife | la novia | girlfriend |
| el marido | husband | la relación | relationship |
Useful verbs related to relationship status include:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| durar | to last |
| significar | to mean |
| terminar(se) | to finish/end |
All Foundation Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Reading practice
Read this article about personality types, taken from a psychology magazine, then have a go at the activity below.
Un estudio reciente muestra que existen cuatro tipos de personalidades, pero la mayoría de las personas tiene una combinación* de características.
Tipo A: Estas personas tienen un comportamiento tranquilo - nunca están enfadadas y a veces son serias. No les gusta mostrar sus sentimientos y prefieren evitar ser el centro de atención**.
Tipo B: Estas personas son muy alegres y positivas. Parecen ser completamente seguras de sí mismas y se relacionan bien con mucha gente. Son personas muy activas y les encantan las fiestas.
Tipo C: Las personas que tienen este tipo de identidad son independientes. Son personas trabajdoras y responsables y tienen mucha influencia sobre la gente. Sin embargo, discuten demasiado y no aceptan si se equivocan.
Tipo D: Este tipo de persona es muy artística. Tiene muchas ideas originales y les gusta crear cosas, pero a veces no organizan bien su vida.
- una combinación - a combination
** atención - attention
Choose the correct personality type (A, B, C or D) for each statement.
They argue too much
They are never angry
They get on well with people
They are extremely self-confident
They are creative
They do not like showing their feelings
C - The text says discuten demasiado (they are argue too much)
A- the text says nunca están enfadadas (they are never angry)
B - the text says se relacionan bien con mucha gente (they relate well to lots of people)
B - the text says Parecen ser completamente seguras de sí mismas (they seem to be very sure of themselves)
D - the text says les gusta crear cosas (they like to create things)
A - the text says No les gusta mostrar sus sentimientos (they don’t like showing their feelings)
Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful vocabulary to use when describing relationships.
Higher Tier - Vocabulary - Relationships
Useful verbs include:
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| apoyar | to support | entender | to understand |
| confiar en | to trust in someone / to rely something | gritar | to shout |
| criticar | to criticise | molestar | to annoy |
| enamorarse (de) | to fall in love (with) | pelearse | to fight/ argue |
| equivocarse | to make a mistake | relacionar/ relacionarse con | to relate (to)/ interact (with) |
For example:
Mi hermano mayor me molesta mucho. – My older sibling annoys me a lot.
Mi madre me entiende. – My mother understands me.
Mis amigos siempre me apoyan. – My friends always support me.
Useful nouns include:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el comportamiento | behaviour |
| la confianza | trust |
| el conflicto | conflict |
| la felicidad | happiness |
All Higher Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Higher Tier - Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful Higher Tier vocabulary to use when describing relationships.
Now you have revised the important vocabulary and key grammar points for describing relationships why not have a look at the Describing accommodation in Spanish guide.
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