hola madre
/ola madɾe/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "hello mother" is hola madre.
The phrase is a greeting used when speaking to one's mother.
Which one should you use?
While hola madre is grammatically correct, hola mamá is much more common and natural for a child or adult speaking to their mother in an informal setting. For very high levels of affection, you might use ¡Hola mami! (hello mommy) or the sweet greeting Saludos, mamá linda (greetings, beautiful mother).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies widely: ¡Hola mami! is an informal and affectionate way to greet your mother, whereas Estimada madre is a formal and polite way to greet your mother, particularly in written communication.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use hola madre instead of hola mamá.
Did you know?
- While hola madre is a direct greeting, some Spanish speakers use the word madre in slangy, hyperbolic expressions that have nothing to do with actual family members.
- In many Spanish-speaking households, greeting a mother often involves a single kiss on the right cheek.
- In some cultures mami is used as a term of endearment for women who are not biological mothers.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, mamá de mi corazón! ¿Cómo estás?Hello, mother of my heart! How are you?
Example conversation
Mateo walks into the kitchen to greet his mother.
- MateoHola madre, ¿estás cocinando?Hello mother, are you cooking?
- MaríaHola Mateo, sí, estoy haciendo cena.Hello Mateo, yes, I am making dinner.
- MateoHuele muy bien, ¡tengo hambre!It smells very good, I am hungry!
- MaríaLávate las manos y siéntate, hijo.Wash your hands and sit down, son.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
