Mi suegra vive en otro barrio y es muy amable.

to be

Breakdown of Mi suegra vive en otro barrio y es muy amable.

• en: in
• amable: kind
• mi: my

Questions & Answers about Mi suegra vive en otro barrio y es muy amable.

Why is it mi suegra and not la mi suegra or just la suegra?

In standard Spanish, when you talk about a single family member and use a possessive (my, your, his/her, etc.), you normally do not use the article:

• mi madre – my mother
• tu hermano – your brother
• su hija – his/her daughter
• mi suegra – my mother-in-law

So mi suegra is the normal form.
*la mi suegra sounds archaic or very regional, and learners should avoid it.

If you drop the possessive and speak more generally, you can use an article:

• La suegra vive lejos. – The mother-in-law lives far away. (we already know whose from context)

What exactly does suegra mean, and how do I say other “in-law” relatives?

Suegra means mother-in-law (the mother of your spouse or long‑term partner).

Related words:

• suegro – father-in-law
• suegros – parents-in-law, or “my in-laws” (when referring to the two parents)
  
  • Mis suegros viven en Sevilla. – My in-laws live in Seville.
• familia política – broader term for “in-laws” (all relatives gained by marriage)
  
  • Voy a cenar con mi familia política. – I’m going to have dinner with my in-laws.

So mi suegra vive… = my mother‑in‑law lives…

Why is it vive en and not vive a or vive por?