hola mamá y papá
/ola mama i papa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'hello mom and dad' is translated into Spanish as hola mamá y papá.
hola mamá y papá is a greeting used when speaking to one's parents. It is a casual way to greet them in everyday family interactions.
Which one should you use?
Using the forms mamá and papá is more affectionate and common for children than using the more formal terms madre and padre.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term jefes is used as an affectionate way to refer to one's parents.
Did you know?
- The word hola may have a distant relative in the Arabic phrase wal-lāh, which means 'by God!', though this theory is debated by linguists.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the greeting is accompanied by a beso, a light kiss on the cheek, which varies in number depending on the region.
- In Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to greet parents with a beso on the cheek regardless of the speaker's age.
Examples in context
- Hola mamá y papá, ¿cómo están?Hello mom and dad, how are you?
- Hola mamá y papá, ¡qué alegría verlos!Hello mom and dad, what a joy to see you!
- Hola mamá y papá, traigo algo para la cena.Hello mom and dad, I brought something for dinner.
Example conversation
Mateo arrives at his parents' house for a family lunch.
- MateoHola mamá y papá, ya llegué.Hello mom and dad, I'm here.
- Sofía¡Hola, Mateo! Pasa, hijo.Hello, Mateo! Come in, son.
- MateoTodo se ve muy rico.Everything looks very delicious.
- SofíaGracias, siéntate a la mesa.Thank you, sit down at the table.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, mamá, papá, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
