QUICK ANSWER
"Tíos" is a form of "tíos", a plural noun which is often translated as "aunt and uncle". "Tía" is a noun which is often translated as "aunt". Learn more about the difference between "tíos" and "tía" below.
los tíos(
tee
-
ohs
)A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. aunt and uncle (couple)
A Adela la criaron sus tíos porque se quedó huérfana a edad muy temprana.Adela was raised by her aunt and uncle because she was orphaned at an early age.
b. uncle and aunt (couple)
Voy a pasarme el verano a la casa de mis tíos.I'm going to spend the summer at my uncle and aunt's house.
2. (masculine or mixed gender) (used to refer to several relatives)
A word or phrase used to refer to a group including masculine words or both masculine and feminine words (e.g., bienvenidos).
a. aunts and uncles (plural) (mixed gender)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
Todos los tíos de Ramona fueron a su fiesta de cumpleaños.All of Ramona's aunts and uncles went to her birthday party.
b. uncles and aunts (plural) (mixed gender)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
Tengo un montón de tíos y primos.I have a ton of uncles and aunts and cousins.
c. uncles (masculine) (plural)
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
¿Quiénes son esos tres ahí? - Son mis tíos por parte de madre.Who are those three there? - They're my uncles on my mom's side.
el tío
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
3. (relative)
a. uncle
Mi tío se vistió de Papá Noel para la fiesta navideña.My uncle dressed up as Santa Claus for the Christmas party.
4. (colloquial) (male) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. guy (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Viste al tío pidiendo limosna con traje de Armani? ¡Qué locura!Did you see the guy begging in the Armani suit? Madness!
b. dude (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Oye, Paco, hay un tío en la puerta que dice ser tu hermano.Hey, Paco, there's a dude at the door claiming to be your brother.
c. bloke (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Hay un tío en el mercado de pescado que vende un bacalao riquísimo.There's a bloke at the fish market who sells a delicious cod.
5. (colloquial) (form of address) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. pal (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Oye, tío! No le hables así a mi esposa.Hey, pal! Don't talk to my wife like that.
b. dude (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
¡Oye, tío! Se te cayó la cartera.Hey, dude! You dropped your billfold.
c. mate (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¡Mira, tío! Ya te pagué. O me das la mercancía o llamaré a la poli.Look, mate! I already paid you. Either you give me the merchandise, or I'll call the cops.
la tía(
tee
-
ah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (relative)
a. aunt
Vamos a visitar a mi tía Elena esta tarde.We are going to visit my aunt Elena this afternoon.
2. (colloquial) (female) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. lady (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Tu jefa es una tía batalladora!Your boss is some feisty lady!
b. chick (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Vaya tía buena!What a hot chick!
c. woman
Esa tía está pendiente a su celular y no está mirando dónde camina.That woman is on her phone and isn't paying attention to where she's going.
3. (colloquial) (form of address) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡Oye, tía! No me falles ahora.Come on! Don't let me down now.
¡Escucha, tía! No le hagas caso.Hey, listen! Don't take any notice of him.
b. love (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¡Oye, tía! No es para tanto.Look, love! It's not such a big deal.
