hola mamá
/ola mama/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hey mom" translates to Spanish as hola mamá.
hola mamá is an informal greeting used when speaking to one's mother. While hola literally means "hello", it serves as the standard way to translate the informal English greeting "hey" in this specific context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the term vieja (literally "old lady") is used as a term of endearment to refer to one's mother.
How does it change in a sentence?
The accent mark on the final á in mamá is essential. It indicates the correct stress and distinguishes the word from mama, which can mean "breast" in some contexts.
Did you know?
- The greeting hola likely has roots in the French command holà, which was used to tell someone to 'stop' or to hail a ferryman.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling your mother mamá continues well into adulthood, whereas English speakers often transition to 'mom' or 'mother' in different social settings.
Examples in context
- Hola, mamáHello, mom.
- ¡Ey, mamá!Hey, mom!
- Hola mamá, ¿cómo estás?Hey mom, how are you?
- ¡Hola mamá! ¿Qué haces?Hey mom! What are you doing?
- Hola mamá, ya llegué.Hey mom, I'm home.
Example conversation
Elena walks into the kitchen to greet her mother.
- ElenaHola mamá, ¿cómo estuvo tu día?Hey mom, how was your day?
- AlejandroMuy bien, Elena. ¿Y el tuyo?Very good, Elena. And yours?
- ElenaTodo bien, solo estoy cansada.Everything is fine, I'm just tired.
- AlejandroVe a descansar un rato.Go rest for a while.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, mamá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
