Hola hermana
/ola eɾmana/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hey sister" can be translated into Spanish as Hola hermana.
Hola hermana is an informal greeting used when speaking to one's sister.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word carnala is used to address your sister informally. You might hear the greeting ¡Hola, carnala! as an equivalent to "Hey, sis!"
Did you know?
- The word hermana shares its roots with the English word 'germane', which refers to something being closely related or relevant.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word hermana is used in a religious context to refer to a nun, making 'hey sister' a common greeting in a convent.
- While hermana is the standard term, some Spanish speakers use hermanita as a term of endearment even if the sister is much older.
Example conversation
Javier walks into the living room to greet Lucía.
- JavierHola hermana, ¿qué haces?Hey sister, what are you doing?
- LucíaHola Javier, estoy leyendo un libro.Hi Javier, I am reading a book.
- JavierParece interesante, ¿de qué trata?It looks interesting, what is it about?
- LucíaEs una historia sobre un viaje.It is a story about a trip.
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.
