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"Materno" is an adjective which is often translated as "maternal", and "apellido paterno" is a noun which is often translated as "father's last name". Learn more about the difference between "materno" and "apellido paterno" below.
materno(
mah
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tehr
-
noh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (general)
a. maternal
Mi abuela materna se llamaba Ana, mi madre se llama Ana y yo también.My maternal grandmother's name was Ana, my mother's name is Ana, and my name is Ana too.
b. motherly
El amor materno no se puede igualar a ningún otro sentimiento.Motherly love can't be matched by any other feeling.
c. mother's
Muchos expertos están de acuerdo en que la leche materna es mejor para los bebés que el biberón.Many experts agree that mother's milk is better for babies than a bottle.
el apellido paterno(
ah
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peh
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yee
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doh
pah
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tehr
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noh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (general)
a. father's last name
En nuestra cultura, el apellido paterno precede al apellido materno.In our culture, the father's last name comes before the mother's last name.
