Tío (en. Uncle)
/ˈti.o/
Meaning & Definition
EnglishSpanish
noun
Male relative who is a brother of one of the parents.
My uncle is coming to visit this weekend.
Mi tío viene a visitar este fin de semana.
In colloquial language, it can refer to a friend or acquaintance.
That guy is very funny.
Ese tío es muy divertido.
Man in general, without a specific family bond.
That guy doesn't know anything about what he's talking about.
Ese tío no sabe nada de lo que está hablando.
Etymology
From Latin 'tīus', meaning 'brother of the father'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
handsome guy
Attractive man.
tío bueno
act the fool
To behave in a ridiculous or funny way.
hacer el tío
guy with the stick
A person considered a bit serious or boring.
tío de la vara
Related Words
aunt
Female relative who is a sister of one of the parents.
tía
cousin
Son of the uncle or aunt.
primo
Slang Meanings
A colloquial way to refer to a friend or acquaintance.
What’s up, dude? How's everything?
¿Qué tal, tío? ¿Cómo va todo?
It can be used to refer to someone who impresses or stands out.
That guy is the best at his job.
Ese tío es el mejor en su trabajo.
It can denote surprise or curiosity.
Dude, did you see what happened?
Tío, ¿viste eso que pasó?