Portuguese · A1 (Beginner)
Family in Portuguese: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Portuguese words for family are a mãe (the mother), o pai (the father) and a irmã (the sister). The full Portuguese family phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Portuguese vocabulary for family, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Portuguese to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Portuguese curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key family vocabulary
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| a mãe | the mother |
| o pai | the father |
| a irmã | the sister |
| o irmão | the brother |
| a família | the family |
| os pais | the parents |
| o filho | the son |
| a filha | the daughter |
| o tio | the uncle |
| a tia | the aunt |
Example sentences
A minha mãe chama-se Ana.
My mother's name is Ana.
O meu pai trabalha em Lisboa.
My father works in Lisbon.
Tenho uma irmã.
I have a sister.
O meu irmão tem dez anos.
My brother is ten years old.
A minha família vive no Porto.
My family lives in Porto.
Os meus pais são do Algarve.
My parents are from the Algarve.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Portuguese that actually sticks.
Language Lab teaches the Portuguese you need to live abroad — with a live AI tutor. Coming soon.
Join the beta →