hola hermana
/ola eɾmana/from spelling rules
hola hermana is the Spanish way to say "hello sister".
This phrase is a greeting used when speaking to one's female sibling.
Which one should you use?
While hola hermana is the literal translation, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is more common to use a diminutive like hola hermanita to express affection toward a sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
In written Spanish, a comma is typically used to set off the person being addressed (the vocative) from the greeting.
Did you know?
- The greeting hola may trace its roots back to an old command used to hail a ferryman, rather than a standard way to say 'hi'.
- While hermana is the standard term, in many Spanish-speaking regions, people use the term mana as a slang shorthand for 'sister'.
- In some Latin American countries, a person might address a close female friend as hermana or even sister to show deep trust, even without a blood relation.
Examples in context
- Hola, hermana. ¿Cómo estás hoy?Hello, sister. How are you today?
- ¡Hola, hermanita! ¿Qué tal estuvo tu día?Hello, little sister! How was your day?
- Hola hermana, ¿cómo estás?Hello sister, how are you?
Example conversation
Alejandro enters the room where Elena is reading.
- ElenaHola hermana, ¿estás ocupada?Hello sister, are you busy?
- AlejandroHola Alejandro, no mucho. ¿Qué pasa?Hello Alejandro, not much. What's up?
- Elena¿Me puedes ayudar con esto?Can you help me with this?
- AlejandroSí, claro. Enséñame.Yes, of course. Show me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermana, hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
