Materno vs. maternal

The Spanish adjectives 'materno' and 'maternal' both refer to the concept of motherhood. Although they may seem interchangeable, they are used in different contexts and have different connotations.

Materno

'Materno' is an adjective that directly relates to one's mother or her side of the family. It is often used to describe ancestry or familial relationships on the mother's side.
La abuela materna de Ana vive en México.
(Ana's maternal grandmother lives in Mexico.)
Los parientes maternos suelen ser muy unidos.
(Maternal relatives tend to be very close-knit.)
Tiene características físicas de su lado materno.
(He has physical characteristics from his maternal side.)

Maternal

'Maternal' describes qualities or feelings that are characteristic of or resemble those of a mother. It's used to refer to nurturing, caring attitudes and behaviors typically associated with mothers.
Su comportamiento maternal la hace querida por todos los niños.
(Her maternal behavior makes her loved by all the children.)
El instinto maternal se manifiesta en situaciones protectoras hacia los hijos.
(The maternal instinct manifests in protective situations towards the children.)
Es conocida por su actitud maternal hacia sus estudiantes.
(She is known for her maternal attitude towards her students.)

Summary

In summary, 'maternal' refers to something specific to a person's mother or mother's family, such as lineage or kinship. In contrast, 'maternal' evokes the qualities, instincts or behaviours associated with being a mother or mother-like figure, focusing on personality traits and actions rather than direct lineage. Although both terms are related to the idea of motherhood, they are used differently in Spanish and have different implications about relationships and characteristics.