When we talk about something paterna, we are referring to something related to a father. This adjective is the feminine form of paterno. So, if you're describing a father's side of the family or a father's influence, you might use this word.
For example, if you're talking about a father's love, you could say "su amor paterno" (his paternal love). If you're talking about a father's house, and the house is feminine in Spanish (like "la casa"), then you would use "la casa paterna."
This word is useful for describing family relationships and origins. It helps specify the connection to the father rather than the mother (which would be materna).
Alright, let's talk about 'paterna.' This word is a useful adjective in Spanish, and it's all about connecting something to a father. Think of it as 'paternal' but specifically for feminine nouns. It's not a super complicated word, but knowing how to use it correctly will definitely make your Spanish sound more natural.
§ What 'paterna' means
- Spanish Word
- paterna (adjective)
- Definition
- Relating to a father; paternal (female).
§ How to use 'paterna' in a sentence
The key thing to remember about 'paterna' is that it's an adjective. This means it has to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Since 'paterna' ends in '-a', it's the feminine singular form. If you were talking about a masculine singular noun, you'd use 'paterno.' For plural nouns, you'd use 'paternas' (feminine) or 'paternos' (masculine).
Let's look at some examples to make this clear. Pay attention to the noun being described and how 'paterna' changes (or doesn't change) to match it.
Su familia paterna vive en Madrid. (His paternal family lives in Madrid.)
Here, 'familia' is a feminine singular noun, so we use 'paterna.' Simple enough, right?
Recibió una herencia paterna. (She received a paternal inheritance.)
Again, 'herencia' (inheritance) is feminine singular, so 'paterna' is the correct form.
La casa paterna está en el campo. (The paternal home is in the countryside.)
'Casa' (house) is feminine singular, so 'paterna' fits perfectly.
§ 'Paterna' and its variations
As mentioned, 'paterna' is just one form of this adjective. Let's quickly review the others so you're prepared for any situation:
- Paterno: Masculine singular. Example: El lado paterno de su familia. (The paternal side of his family.)
- Paternas: Feminine plural. Example: Sus abuelas paternas eran de Andalucía. (His paternal grandmothers were from Andalusia.)
- Paternos: Masculine plural. Example: Mis tíos paternos son muy divertidos. (My paternal uncles are very funny.)
§ Common phrases with 'paterna'
You'll often hear 'paterna' in a few specific contexts. Here are some common collocations:
- Familia paterna
- Paternal family (the father's side of the family).
Mi familia paterna es de Colombia. (My paternal family is from Colombia.)
- Línea paterna
- Paternal line (ancestry through the father).
Su ascendencia por línea paterna es de origen vasco. (Her ancestry on the paternal line is of Basque origin.)
- Autoridad paterna
- Paternal authority.
La autoridad paterna es importante en muchas culturas. (Paternal authority is important in many cultures.)
You've got this. 'Paterna' isn't tricky once you grasp the gender agreement. Practice using it in sentences, and it'll become second nature.
Wusstest du?
The root 'pater' is found in many Indo-European languages, reflecting a shared ancient concept of fatherhood.
Aussprachehilfe
- pronouncing the 'a' at the end like the 'a' in 'cat'
- not rolling the 'r'
Beispiele nach Niveau
Mi abuela paterna es de Madrid.
My paternal grandmother is from Madrid.
Here 'paterna' describes 'abuela' (grandmother), which is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
Su familia paterna es muy grande.
His paternal family is very big.
'Familia' is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
Ella tiene una tía paterna que vive en México.
She has a paternal aunt who lives in Mexico.
'Tía' (aunt) is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
La casa paterna está en el campo.
The paternal house is in the countryside.
'Casa' (house) is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
Mi línea paterna es de España.
My paternal line is from Spain.
'Línea' (line) is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
Ella recibió una herencia paterna.
She received a paternal inheritance.
'Herencia' (inheritance) is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
La influencia paterna fue importante.
The paternal influence was important.
'Influencia' (influence) is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
Tengo una foto de mi bisabuela paterna.
I have a photo of my paternal great-grandmother.
'Bisabuela' (great-grandmother) is feminine, so 'paterna' is used.
La familia de mi madre es materna, y la de mi padre es paterna.
My mother's family is maternal, and my father's is paternal.
Describes family lineage.
Ella tiene una conexión muy fuerte con su abuela paterna.
She has a very strong connection with her paternal grandmother.
Refers to the father's side of the family.
La herencia paterna es importante en algunas culturas.
Paternal inheritance is important in some cultures.
Used to describe something inherited from the father.
Mi tía paterna siempre nos visita en Navidad.
My paternal aunt always visits us at Christmas.
Refers to the father's sister.
Ella recibió el apoyo paterno de su padre.
She received paternal support from her father.
Describes support from a father.
La casa paterna de mi abuelo está en el campo.
My grandfather's paternal home is in the countryside.
Refers to the house where the father grew up or from his family.
La influencia paterna fue clave en su decisión.
The paternal influence was key in her decision.
Describes influence from a father.
Ella tiene un gran parecido con su familia paterna.
She has a strong resemblance to her paternal family.
Refers to physical similarities with the father's side.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Ella tiene una conexión paterna muy fuerte.
She has a very strong paternal connection.
La decisión fue tomada con el consejo de su figura paterna.
The decision was made with the advice of her father figure.
La casa paterna siempre será un lugar especial para ella.
The paternal home will always be a special place for her.
Su herencia paterna incluía una vieja finca.
Her paternal inheritance included an old estate.
La licencia paterna es cada vez más común.
Paternity leave is becoming more common.
Ella valora mucho la influencia paterna en su vida.
She greatly values the paternal influence in her life.
La responsabilidad paterna es compartida entre ambos padres.
Paternal responsibility is shared between both parents.
Su actitud paterna la hizo sentir segura.
His paternal attitude made her feel safe.
La autoridad paterna era respetada en esa familia.
Paternal authority was respected in that family.
Ella investigó su línea paterna para aprender sobre sus ancestros.
She researched her paternal line to learn about her ancestors.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
'Padre' is the noun for 'father', whereas 'paterno/a' is the adjective 'paternal'.
'Madre' is the noun for 'mother'. 'Paterna' relates to father, 'materna' relates to mother.
'Familiar' means 'family-related' or 'familiar'. It's a broader term than the specific 'paterno/a'.
Grammatikmuster
Leicht verwechselbar
'Paterno' and 'paterna' are often confused because they refer to the same concept (paternal) but are gendered. Learners might forget to match the adjective's gender to the noun it modifies.
Both 'paterno' and 'paterna' mean 'paternal' or 'relating to a father'. The difference is their grammatical gender. 'Paterno' is masculine, used with masculine nouns. 'Paterna' is feminine, used with feminine nouns.
El amor paterno (The paternal love - masculine noun). La figura paterna (The paternal figure - feminine noun).
While 'paternal' relates to the father, 'maternal' relates to the mother. Learners sometimes mix these up, especially when discussing parental roles generally.
'Maternal' means 'relating to a mother'. It's often contrasted with 'paternal'.
Su amor maternal era evidente. (Her maternal love was evident.)
Learners might use 'parental' thinking it covers both parents, which it does in English. However, in Spanish, 'paterno/a' specifically refers to the father, and 'parental' is a separate concept.
'Parental' means 'relating to parents in general', encompassing both mother and father. It's a broader term than 'paterno/a'.
La responsabilidad parental es compartida. (Parental responsibility is shared.)
The 'paterno' and 'fraterno' words sound similar and both relate to family. However, 'fraterno' refers to brotherhood, not fatherhood.
'Fraterno' means 'brotherly'. It's derived from 'hermano' (brother).
Tienen un lazo fraterno muy fuerte. (They have a very strong brotherly bond.)
'Tío' refers to an uncle, which is a male relative but not the father. Beginners might confuse general male family terms.
'Tío' specifically means 'uncle', the brother of one's father or mother.
Mi tío es el hermano de mi padre. (My uncle is my father's brother.)
Satzmuster
Su actitud paterna
Su actitud paterna me recordó a mi propio padre. (His paternal attitude reminded me of my own father.)
Su figura paterna
Busca una figura paterna en su vida. (She looks for a paternal figure in her life.)
La herencia paterna
La herencia paterna fue dividida entre los hermanos. (The paternal inheritance was divided among the siblings.)
El lado paterno de la familia
Conocí a mi abuela por el lado paterno. (I met my grandmother on the paternal side of the family.)
Mi responsabilidad paterna
Siento una gran responsabilidad paterna hacia mis hijos. (I feel a great paternal responsibility towards my children.)
La autoridad paterna
Él ejerce la autoridad paterna con sabiduría. (He exercises paternal authority with wisdom.)
El afecto paterno
Necesita más afecto paterno en su vida. (He needs more paternal affection in his life.)
Un permiso paterno
Solicitó un permiso paterno para cuidar a su bebé. (She requested paternal leave to care for her baby.)
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine a 'PATERnal' figure, your father, always there. 'Paterna' sounds like paternal, directly linking it to the father.
Visuelle Assoziation
Picture a strong, kind father figure. Maybe he's wearing a tie that says 'PATERNA' on it, or a cape, signifying his paternal role. The image should be distinctly feminine to help you remember the 'a' ending for feminine nouns.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Describe your relationship with your father using 'paterna'. For example: 'Mi abuela tenía una influencia paterna muy fuerte en mi vida.' (My grandmother had a very strong paternal influence in my life.) Or, 'La casa paterna siempre fue un lugar de alegría.' (The paternal home was always a place of joy.)
Wortherkunft
Latin 'paternus'
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: of a father
Indo-EuropeanKultureller Kontext
In Spanish-speaking cultures, family ties are often very strong, and words like 'paterna' are commonly used to describe familial relationships and inherited traits. For example, 'casa paterna' refers to the paternal home, often carrying a sense of tradition and belonging.
Teste dich selbst 36 Fragen
Choose the word that means 'father's' or 'paternal' (feminine form):
'Paterna' is the feminine form of paternal, used when the noun it describes is feminine. 'Paterno' is masculine.
Which word describes something related to a father?
'Paterna' relates to a father. 'Materna' relates to a mother. 'Fraterna' relates to a brother. 'Sororal' relates to a sister.
If you are talking about your father's house, which word would you use?
'Casa' is feminine, so we use the feminine adjective 'paterna'. 'Mi casa paterna' means 'my father's house'.
The word 'paterna' means 'relating to a mother'.
'Paterna' means relating to a father. 'Materna' means relating to a mother.
'Paterna' can be used to describe a female relative of your father.
Yes, 'paterna' is the feminine form and can describe something feminine related to your father, like 'tía paterna' (paternal aunt).
The word 'paterna' is always used with masculine nouns.
'Paterna' is the feminine form, so it is used with feminine nouns. The masculine form is 'paterno'.
Write a sentence describing your father using a descriptive adjective.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mi padre es alto.
Write a sentence about a family member (e.g., your mother, brother) and what they like to do. Use a simple verb.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mi madre le gusta leer.
Write a sentence introducing yourself. Include your name and where you are from.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Me llamo Ana y soy de España.
¿Cómo se llama la hermana de Carlos?
Read this passage:
Hola, me llamo Carlos. Tengo una hermana. Se llama Sofía. Ella es joven y simpática.
¿Cómo se llama la hermana de Carlos?
The passage states 'Se llama Sofía'.
The passage states 'Se llama Sofía'.
¿De qué color es el perro?
Read this passage:
Mi perro es grande y negro. Le gusta correr en el parque. Él es muy feliz.
¿De qué color es el perro?
The passage says 'Mi perro es grande y negro'.
The passage says 'Mi perro es grande y negro'.
¿De qué color es la casa?
Read this passage:
La casa es azul. Tiene dos ventanas grandes y una puerta roja. Hay un jardín pequeño.
¿De qué color es la casa?
The passage states 'La casa es azul'.
The passage states 'La casa es azul'.
Choose the correct translation for 'relación paterna'.
Paterna refers to something relating to a father. Relación means relationship.
Which word best completes the sentence: 'Ella tiene una actitud ___ hacia sus sobrinos.'
If she is acting like a father figure towards her nephews, 'paterna' is the correct adjective (feminine form to agree with 'actitud').
Select the sentence where 'paterna' is used correctly.
'Paterna' is feminine and modifies 'casa' (house), meaning 'the paternal house'. In 'el amor paterna', 'amor' is masculine, so it should be 'paterno'. In 'amiga paterna' and 'fiesta paterna', 'paterna' doesn't fit the typical usage.
The phrase 'figura paterna' means 'maternal figure'.
'Figura paterna' translates to 'paternal figure', not 'maternal figure'. 'Paterna' relates to a father.
If something is 'paterna', it means it is related to a father.
'Paterna' is an adjective that means 'relating to a father' or 'paternal' (feminine form).
You can use 'paterna' to describe a mother's love.
'Paterna' refers to a father. For a mother's love, you would use 'materna'.
Write a sentence describing a father's protective nature using a form of 'paterno' or 'paterna'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
La actitud paterna es siempre protectora con sus hijos. (A father's attitude is always protective of his children.)
Imagine you are talking about your father's house. Write a short sentence using the word 'paterna' to describe it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Visité la casa paterna de mi padre ayer. (I visited my father's paternal home yesterday.)
Describe a memory you have with your father using 'paterna' or 'paterno' in a short sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Tengo una memoria paterna muy bonita de mi niñez. (I have a very beautiful paternal memory from my childhood.)
¿De qué lado de la familia habla María que es interesante?
Read this passage:
María siempre habla de su familia. Dice que su abuela paterna es muy amable. También menciona que la historia familiar de su lado paterno es muy interesante. Le encanta escuchar las historias de su abuelo paterno.
¿De qué lado de la familia habla María que es interesante?
El pasaje indica que 'la historia familiar de su lado paterno es muy interesante'. (The passage indicates that 'the family history on her paternal side is very interesting.')
El pasaje indica que 'la historia familiar de su lado paterno es muy interesante'. (The passage indicates that 'the family history on her paternal side is very interesting.')
¿Qué objeto de la herencia paterna se menciona?
Read this passage:
Mi tío me contó sobre la herencia paterna. Dijo que era muy valiosa para la familia. Hablaba de un reloj antiguo que pertenecía a su padre, mi abuelo paterno. Es un recuerdo muy especial.
¿Qué objeto de la herencia paterna se menciona?
El pasaje dice: 'Hablaba de un reloj antiguo que pertenecía a su padre, mi abuelo paterno'. (The passage says: 'He spoke of an antique watch that belonged to his father, my paternal grandfather.')
El pasaje dice: 'Hablaba de un reloj antiguo que pertenecía a su padre, mi abuelo paterno'. (The passage says: 'He spoke of an antique watch that belonged to his father, my paternal grandfather.')
¿Con quién tiene Luisa una buena relación de su familia paterna?
Read this passage:
Luisa tiene una relación muy buena con su familia. Especialmente con su tía paterna, la hermana de su padre. Siempre le da buenos consejos y la apoya mucho. Luisa valora mucho su conexión familiar paterna.
¿Con quién tiene Luisa una buena relación de su familia paterna?
El pasaje menciona: 'Especialmente con su tía paterna, la hermana de su padre.' (The passage mentions: 'Especially with her paternal aunt, her father's sister.')
El pasaje menciona: 'Especialmente con su tía paterna, la hermana de su padre.' (The passage mentions: 'Especially with her paternal aunt, her father's sister.')
La abuela tiene una actitud muy _____ con sus nietos.
The sentence speaks about a grandmother having an attitude towards her grandchildren. 'Paterna' refers to a paternal (fatherly) attitude, which can be used to describe a grandmother's firm but loving approach, similar to how a father might be.
Ella siente una protección _____ hacia su familia.
'Paterna' here implies a fatherly, protective feeling. It's often used when describing a strong, safeguarding sentiment, even if the person expressing it is not a father.
La influencia _____ en su vida fue muy importante.
This sentence refers to a 'paternal influence,' meaning the influence of a father figure. 'Paterna' fits well to describe this type of guiding influence.
Su herencia _____ incluye un amor por la música.
'Herencia paterna' means paternal inheritance, indicating something received from the father's side of the family. In this context, a love for music passed down from the father.
La figura _____ en la obra de teatro era muy autoritaria.
Here, 'figura paterna' refers to a fatherly figure, often associated with authority. This makes 'paterna' the correct choice to describe an authoritarian character in a play.
A pesar de no tener hijos, ella tiene una paciencia _____ con los niños de su sobrina.
Even without having children, one can possess a 'paternal patience,' meaning a deep, understanding, and guiding patience, similar to a father's. This is why 'paterna' is the appropriate adjective here.
La responsabilidad ___ es compartida entre ambos padres.
In this context, 'paterna' (paternal) refers to the father's responsibility, aligning with the feminine noun 'responsabilidad'.
Ella sentía una fuerte conexión con su lado ___ de la familia.
Here, 'paterna' describes the 'lado' (side) of the family related to the father, agreeing in gender with 'lado'.
La influencia ___ en su vida fue innegable.
'Paterna' (paternal) modifies 'influencia' (influence), which is a feminine noun, making it the correct choice.
Recibió una bendición ___ antes de su boda.
'Paterna' (paternal) correctly describes the 'bendición' (blessing) coming from the father, matching its feminine gender.
La casa ___ ha estado en la familia por generaciones.
'Paterna' here refers to the house associated with the father's side of the family, agreeing with 'casa' (house) which is feminine.
Su herencia cultural ___ es muy rica.
'Paterna' describes the cultural heritage coming from the father's lineage, consistent with 'herencia' (heritage) being feminine.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Beispiel
La herencia paterna es muy importante en algunas culturas.
Verwandte Inhalte
Im Kontext lernen
Dieses Wort in anderen Sprachen
Mehr family Wörter
abrazarse
B1To hug each other; to embrace mutually.
Abuela
A1Grandmother; a mother of one's parent.
Abuelo
A1Grandfather; a father of one's parent.
abuelo/a
A2The father or mother of one's father or mother.
acariciar
B1To touch or stroke gently or lovingly.
acoger
B1To welcome; to receive into one's home.
acunar
B1To cradle; to hold gently in one's arms.
adolescente
A2A person aged between 13 and 19 years.
adopción
B1The legal process of taking another's child as one's own; adoption.
adoptado
B1Taken into one's family by legal means; adopted.
