The word "sobrino" refers specifically to the male child of one's sibling or sibling-in-law. It is used predominantly in familial contexts to denote relationships within the family structure.
"Sobrino" is a common term in both spoken and written Spanish. It tends to be used more frequently in oral speech when discussing family-related matters.
My nephew is learning to ride a bike.
Le compré un regalo a mi sobrino para su cumpleaños.
I bought a gift for my nephew for his birthday.
Mi hermano tiene un sobrino que es muy inteligente.
While "sobrino" may not frequently appear in many idiomatic expressions, it can be a component in some phrases that play on familial relationships. Here are a few examples:
In the family, he is the lucky nephew because he always wins at games.
"Hacer como un sobrino"
When he arrives at his uncles' house, he acts like a nephew and takes advantage of everything.
"El sobrino que no se olvida"
The term "sobrino" originates from the Latin word "sobrinus," which stems from "soror" meaning "sister." The evolution of the word reflects the familial connection to siblings, particularly a person's sister's child.
In familial contexts, these terms are crucial to distinguishing relationships and lineage within the family structure.