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Spanish Genealogical Word List

By Kimberly Powell, About.com

Even if you don't speak or read Spanish, you can still make sense of most Spanish genealogical documents with the understanding of some key words in Spanish. Common genealogy terms, including record types, events, dates and relationships are listed here, along with Spanish words with similar meanings (i.e. words commonly used in Spanish to indicate marriage, including marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock and unite).
Common Spanish Words Found in Genealogy Documents:

Record Types
Birth Record - Acta de nacimiento
Census - Censo, Padrón
Church Records - Registros Parroquiales
Civil Register - Registro Civil
Death Record - Acta de defunción
Marriage Record - Acta de matrimonio
Military - Militar, Ejército

Family Events
Baptism -Bautismo, Bauticé, Bautizado (male), Bautizada (female), Bautismo, Crisma
Birth - Nacimiento, Nació, Nacido (male), Nacida (female)
Burial - Entierro, Sepultura, Entierrado (male), Entierrada (female), Sepultado (male), Sepultada (female)
Confirmation - Confirmación, Crisma
Death - Fallecimiento, Meurte, Muerto, Defunción
Marriage - Matrimonio, Casamiento, Casé, Casado (male), Casada (female)

Relationships
Ancestor - Ascendiente
Aunt - Tía
Brother - Hermano
Child - Niño, Párvulo (male), Niña, Párvula (female)
Cousin - Primo (male), Prima (female)
Daughter - Hija
Descendant - Descendiente
Father - Padre
Grandfather - Abuelo
Grandmother - Abuela
Great-grandfather - Bisabelo
Great-grandmother - Bisabela
Husband - Esposo, Marido, Cónyuge
Mother - Madre
Orphan, Foundling - Expósito (a)
Parents - Padres
Sister - Hermana
Son - Hijo
Uncle - Tío
Wife - Esposa, Marida, Mujer, Cónyuge

Dates - Example: 23 de Abril de 1898
Day - Día
Month - Mes
Year - Año
Morning - Mañana
Night - Noche
January - Enero (Enro, Eno, 1ero)
February - Febrero (Febo)
March - Marzo (Mzo)
April - Abril (Abl)
May - Mayo
June - Junio
July - Julio
August - Agosto (Ago, Agto)
September - Septiembre (Septe, 7bre)
October - Octubre (Ote, Otue, Octue, 8bre)
November - Noviembre (Novbre, 9bre)
December - Diciembre (Dice, 10bre)

Other Common Spanish Genealogical Terms
Archive - Archivo
Catholic church - Iglesia Católica
Index - Indice
Name, given - Nombre de pila, Nombre de bautismo
Name, surname - Nombre, Apellido
Parish - Arroquia

For more common genealogy terms in Spanish, along with their English translations, see Spanish Genealogical Word List at FamilySearch.com.

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