hermana

Hermana is the Spanish noun for a female sibling, denoting a person who shares one or both parents with another person. It is the feminine form of hermano. The term is used for biological sisters as well as adoptive, foster, or stepsisters when the relationship is relevant. The plural form is hermanas, while the masculine is hermanos.

Etymology traces the word to Latin germanus, meaning related by birth; through the history of Spanish, the form developed into hermana and hermano. The related terms share the same root for kinship, with regional phonetic and spelling variations over time.

Usage and variations: Hermana is used across Spanish-speaking communities to indicate kinship, regardless of whether the sister is biological, adoptive, or connected through something like foster care. In religious contexts, hermanas are nuns or women belonging to a religious community. In some regions, the term can function as a form of address among close female friends or members of a group, similar to calling someone “sister.” Specific kinship qualifiers include media hermana (half-sister), hermanastra (stepsister), hermana de crianza (foster sister), and hermana adoptiva (adoptive sister).

Cultural significance: The concept of sisterhood appears frequently in family life, literature, film, and art within the Spanish-speaking world, often associated with support, shared identity, and mutual care. The term also intersects with roles in families, communities, and religious orders, reflecting different social and cultural contexts in which female siblings are valued and recognized. See also: hermano, media hermana, hermanastra, hermana adoptiva.