hola, hermano
/ˈola eɾˈmano/word by word
hola, hermano is the Spanish way to say hello, my brother.
This phrase is a casual greeting used to address a male sibling or a very close male friend.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hola, hermano literally means 'hello, brother'. In Spanish greetings of this type, it is common to omit the possessive word 'my'.
Which one should you use?
You can also use qué pasa, hermano to say 'what's up, brother' when greeting a close male friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hola, hermano is informal and should only be used with people you are close to, such as actual siblings or very close friends. You may also see the informal ¡Hola, bro!, which means 'Hey, bro!'
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola eɾˈmano/
Did you know?
- The English word 'germane', meaning relevant or fitting, actually shares the same Latin root as hermano.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you might hear friends use much more colorful slang than hermano, such as carnal in Mexico, which refers to someone as being 'of your own flesh'.
- While 'brother' is a specific family relation, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a stranger hermano is a common way to establish immediate rapport or friendliness.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, hermano mío! Espero que estés bien. Me alegra verte.Hello, my brother! I hope you are well. It's great to see you.
- ¡Hola, hermano! ¿Qué tal todo? ¿Cómo te ha ido?Hello, brother! How's everything? How have you been?
- ¡Hola, bro! Nos vemos esta tarde para jugar al fútbol.Hey, bro! See you this afternoon to play soccer.
- Hola, hermano, ¿cómo estás?Hello, my brother, how are you?
- Hola, hermano, hace mucho tiempo que no te veo.Hello, my brother, it has been a long time since I saw you.
- ¡Hola, hermano! ¿Qué tal tu día?Hello, my brother! How is your day going?
Example conversation
Daniel arrives at his sister Elena's house for a visit.
- DanielHola, hermano, ¿qué tal todo?Hello, brother, how is everything?
- ElenaHola, Daniel. Todo bien, pasa adelante.Hello, Daniel. Everything is fine, come on in.
- DanielGracias. Te traje un regalo.Thanks. I brought you a gift.
- ElenaEres muy amable, Daniel.You are very kind, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hola, hermano) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermano, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
