Spanish Conversation · Level 26
90 words
Spanish word
apellido
Pronunciation
IPA/apeˈʝiðo/
Meaning
- masculine nounlast name
Example
¿Cuál es tu apellido?
What is your last name?
More examples
Ella conservó su apellido de soltera después del matrimonio.
She kept her maiden name after marriage.
Core concept
Inherited surname used to distinguish families, usually following the first name.
Common phrases
apellido de soltera
maiden name
nombre y apellido
first name and last name
Similar words
nombre: Given or first name that people use to address someone personally.
apellido paterno: Father's family name that is passed down the paternal line.
apellido materno: Mother's family name that is passed down the maternal line.
segundo apellido: Surname that appears second in a person's full legal name.
Definition in Spanish
Palabra que sirve para distinguir a las familias y que, en la mayoría de los casos, sigue al nombre propio.
Word origin
The term originates in Latin appellātus (from appellāre 'to call') via Old Spanish apelido, where the sense 'called name' expanded to mean a hereditary family name.
Usage tips
- The 'last' apellido in a Spanish full name is often the maternal surname and therefore may not match an English speaker's expectation of the family name in formal or legal situations.
Opposites
- nombrefirst namenoun
Related words
- apellidarsebe surnamedverb