hola, hijo
/ˈola ˈixo/word by word
The English phrase "hello, my child" is translated into Spanish as hola, hijo.
This phrase is used as a greeting by a parent when addressing their son.
Which one should you use?
The phrase Hola, mi niño/a is also used as an informal way to say "hello, my child".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola ˈixo/
Did you know?
- Some scholars suggest that hola may have been influenced by the Arabic expression wal-lāh, which means 'by God' or 'really'.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, a parent might use hijo to address a close male friend or a younger man as a term of affection, even without a biological connection.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase hola, mi niño can be used by adults to address a child long after they have stopped being a 'boy', as a lingering mark of tenderness.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, mijo! ¿Cómo te va?Hello, my child! How is it going?
- Hola, hijo, ¿cómo estás?Hello, my child, how are you?
- Hola, hijo, ya es hora de comer.Hello, son, it is time to eat.
- ¡Hola, hijo! Te extrañaba mucho.Hello, son! I missed you a lot.
Example conversation
Lucía greets Daniel as he walks through the front door.
- LucíaHola, hijo, qué bueno que volviste.Hello, son, it's good that you're back.
- DanielHola, mamá, tuve un día muy largo.Hello, mom, I had a very long day.
- Lucía¿Quieres algo de comer ahora?Do you want something to eat now?
- DanielSí, por favor, tengo mucha hambre.Yes, please, I am very hungry.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hola, hijo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hijo, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
