hola, hijo
/ˈola ˈixo/word by word
The English phrase 'hello, my son' is translated into Spanish as hola, hijo.
hola, hijo is a greeting used by a parent to address their son. While English speakers often include the possessive 'my', Spanish speakers frequently omit the word for 'my' when addressing family members directly. You can add words like querido (dear) or amado (loved) to the phrase to increase the affection shown.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase translates literally to hello, son. The omission of the word for 'my' is common when speaking directly to a son in Spanish.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈola ˈixo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, addressing a younger male as hijo can be used affectionately by much older men who are not actually the father, such as a close family friend or mentor.
- The word hijo underwent a phonetic shift from the Old Spanish fijo, where the initial 'f' sound gradually transformed into a silent 'h'.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, hijo mío! ¿Cómo has pasado el día?Hello, my son! How was your day?
- Buenos días, querido hijo. ¿Dormiste bien?Good morning, dear son. Did you sleep well?
- ¡Hola, hijo! ¿Qué tal todo?Hello, son! How's everything going?
- Hola, hijo, ¿cómo estás?Hello, my son, how are you?
- Hola, hijo, ya es tarde.Hello, my son, it is late.
- ¡Hola, hijo! Qué alegría verte.Hello, my son! It is a joy to see you.
Example conversation
Elena greets Mateo as he arrives home from school.
- ElenaHola, hijo, ¿cómo te fue hoy?Hello, my son, how did it go today?
- MateoMuy bien, mamá, gracias.Very well, mom, thank you.
- ElenaMe alegra mucho escuchar eso.I am very glad to hear that.
- MateoTengo mucha hambre.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.
