Talking about relationships in Spanish

• Use reflexive verbs with reflexive pronouns to describe daily routine as well as relationships with others.

• This guide contains listening and reading practice.

Useful vocabulary for talking about family relationships includes:

For example:

Me llevo bien con mi hermana. – I get on well with my sister.

Mi madre me entiende. – My mother understands me.

Mi hermana se ha enamorado de su novio. – My sister has fallen in love with her boyfriend.

No aguanto a mi hermano menor. – I can’t stand my younger brother.

Nos peleamos demasiado. – We fight too much.

Mis padres se divorcian. – My parents are getting divorced.

Reflexive verbs are often used to describe actions that we do to ourselves. They are particularly useful when talking about daily routine.

For example:

acostarse - to go to bed

despertarse - to wake up

vestirse - to get dressed

Reflexive verbs are also used for talking about relationships with other people.

For example:

casarse - to get married

llevarse bien - to get on well

prometerse - to get engaged

pelearse - to fight/argue

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 infinitive form the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the infinitive.

For example:

• llevarse – to get on

In the present tense, 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 conjugated:

Find out more about reflexive verbs in the Reflexive verbs in the present tense in Spanish guide.

Find out more about using reflexive pronouns in the Reflexive pronouns in Spanish guide.

Listen to Alejandro talking about his family relationships and answer the questions below.

Useful adjectives to talk about gender, sexuality and relationship status include:

For example:

Mi hermana mayor es casada. – My older sister is married.

Mi hermano es gay. – My brother is gay.

Quisiera quedarme soltero/a en el futuro. – I want to stay single in the future.

Useful nouns related to relationship status include:

Useful verbs related to relationship status include:

All Foundation Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.

Indra and Diego are writing about the importance of marriage. Read what they say and answer the questions below.

Indra

En mi opinión, no es necesario compartir tu vida con una pareja para ser feliz. He leído que las personas casadas tienen una vida más larga, pero personalmente preferiría hacer planes y no tener que dar explicaciones a nadie.

Ser soltera hoy en día significa tener independencia y libertad económica, social y profesional. Lo más importante para mí es guardar dinero para viajar por el mundo, comprar las cosas que quiero y guardar dinero para mi futuro.

Diego

El matrimonio tiene muchas ventajas. Tener pareja y formar una familia es el deseo de la mayoría de mis amigos. Creo que ayuda a mantener una vida regular y relativamente estable.

Me parece que es bueno que dos personas del mismo sexo pueden casarse ahora. No importa si se trata de un problema emocional, de salud o de trabajo, siempre podrás contar con tu pareja. Vale la pena pasar el resto de tu vida con una persona especial.

Decide who says the following statements:

• Indra

• Diego

• Neither Indra nor Diego

Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful vocabulary to use when talking about relationships.

Useful Higher Tier vocabulary to describe relationships includes:

For example:

Mis amigos siempre me apoyan. – My friends always support me.

Mi hermana mayor me critica todo el tiempo. – My older sister criticises me all the time.

Comparto todo con mi hermana. – I share everything with my sister.

Mi hermano mayor y su novia se han prometido. – My older brother got engaged to his girlfriend.

All Higher Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.

Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful Higher Tier vocabulary to use when talking about relationships.

Now you have revised the important vocabulary and key grammar points for talking about relationships why not have a look at the Talking about holiday destinations in Spanish?