tío

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uncle, guy, man, mate
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/ˈti.o/
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A Spanish word for an uncle, and in Spain an informal way to refer to or address a man, guy, or male friend.
Practice using tío in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Oye, tío, no te enfades por una tontería.
    Hey, mate, do not get upset over something silly.
  • Qué tío más listo, lo resolvió en un minuto.
    What a clever guy, he solved it in a minute.
  • Mi tío vino a cenar ayer.
    My uncle came for dinner yesterday.
  • El tío que nos atendió fue muy amable.
    The man who served us was very kind.
  • Ayer fui al mercado con mi tío y mis primos.
    Yesterday I went to the market with my uncle and my cousins.

Similar words

tío abuelo
amigo
muchacho
chico
tío materno
tío político
colega
tío segundo
tipo
hombre

Meanings

Uncle

noun
family
neutral
A parent's brother, an aunt's husband, or a male relative treated as an uncle in the family.

Examples

  • Mi tío vino a cenar ayer.
    My uncle came for dinner yesterday.
  • El tío de Ana es muy divertido.
    Ana's uncle is very funny.
  • Ayer fui al mercado con mi tío y mis primos.
    Yesterday I went to the market with my uncle and my cousins.
  • Sus tíos siempre le mandan regalos por su cumpleaños.
    His uncles always send him gifts for his birthday.
  • Mi padre llamó al tío Carlos para felicitarlo.
    My father called Uncle Carlos to congratulate him.

Similar words

tío paterno
tío materno
tío político
tío abuelo
tío segundo

Man, guy, or familiar address

noun
everyday
informal
A colloquial word, especially in Spain, for a man or guy, and also a casual way to address a male friend.

Examples

  • Ese tío siempre llega tarde a la fiesta.
    That guy is always late to the party.
  • Oye, tío, no te enfades por una tontería.
    Hey, mate, do not get upset over something silly.
  • El tío que nos atendió fue muy amable.
    The man who served us was very kind.
  • Qué tío más listo, lo resolvió en un minuto.
    What a clever guy, he solved it in a minute.
  • No conozco a ese tío, pero me suena su cara.
    I do not know that guy, but his face looks familiar.

Similar words

tipo
hombre
chico
muchacho
colega
amigo

Etymology

From Late Latin thius, from Greek theîos, the same family word behind Spanish tía.

FAQ

What does tío mean?

tío means uncle, and in informal Spanish from Spain it can also mean a man, guy, or male friend.

Is tío the same as tía?

tío is the masculine form of tía, so the family meaning is uncle rather than aunt.

Can tío mean dude?

Yes. In Spain, tío can informally mean dude, guy, or mate depending on context.

Does tío need an accent?

Yes. The Spanish word is written tío with an accent on í.

Is tío formal?

The family word is neutral, but the guy or address sense is informal and best kept for casual speech.

What is the plural of tío?

The plural is tíos, used for uncles or, informally in Spain, men or guys.

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