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"Family name" is a noun which is often translated as "el apellido", and "middle name" is a noun which is often translated as "el segundo nombre". Learn more about the difference between "family name" and "middle name" below.
family name(
fahm
-
li
neym
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (last name)
a. el apellido (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My first name is Eduardo, and my family name is Vega.Mi nombre de pila es Eduardo y mi apellido es Vega.
middle name(
mih
-
duhl
neym
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el segundo nombre (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My middle name is Boris because my mom's from Russia.Mi segundo nombre es Boris porque mi mamá es rusa.
2. (figurative) (word that best describes someone)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Guts is Alice's middle name.Alice es el coraje personificado.
Honesty was Frank's middle name.Frank era la honradez en persona.
