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El abuelo tiene ocho hijos.

El abuelo tiene ocho hijos.
The grandfather has eight children.
From Lesson 38:Numbers 1 to 10 (uno, dos, tres)·Spanish (Spain)

Breakdown of El abuelo tiene ocho hijos.

tener
to have
el hijo
the son
el abuelo
the grandfather
ocho
eight

Questions & Answers about El abuelo tiene ocho hijos.

Does the number ocho change if we are counting something feminine, like daughters?
No. In Spanish, the numbers from 2 to 10 always stay the same, regardless of whether the word they describe is masculine or feminine. You would say ocho hijos (eight sons/children) and ocho hijas (eight daughters). Only the number one (un, uno, una) changes based on gender!
Why is hijos translated as "children" instead of "sons"?
In Spanish, the masculine plural is used for mixed groups. While hijos specifically means "sons" if the group is all boys, it is also the standard word for "children" (offspring) when talking about a mix of sons and daughters.
Which verb does tiene come from?
It comes from the verb tener (to have). Tener is an irregular verb, which means it doesn't follow the normal spelling rules. Tiene is the "he/she/it" form, matching el abuelo (the grandfather).
How do I pronounce the letter "h" in ocho and hijos?
The "h" at the very start of hijos is completely silent. However, the "ch" in ocho is a single combined sound, pronounced exactly like the "ch" in the English word "cheese".

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