hola hermana
/ola eɾmana/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'hi sister' is translated into Spanish as hola hermana.
hola hermana is a standard and widely understood way to say 'hi sister' in Spanish. It is used as a friendly greeting when speaking directly to one's sister.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you may hear the term carnala used instead of hermana.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of saying 'hi sister', one might use 'mi sangre', which literally translates to 'my blood', to show a deep familial bond.
- The word hermana shares the same Latin root, germāna, as the English word 'germane', which means closely related or appropriate.
- If you are greeting a nun, you would not typically use hola hermana, as hermana is a formal title for a religious sister, and a simple 'hello' might be seen as too casual.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola, hermana! ¿Cómo has pasado el día?Hi sister! How has your day been?
- ¡Buen día, hermanita! ¿Quieres ir al cine más tarde?Good day, little sister! Do you want to go to the movies later?
Example conversation
María enters the living room and greets her brother's sister.
- MaríaHola hermana, ¿me ayudas con esto?Hi sister, can you help me with this?
- DanielHola María, claro que sí.Hi María, of course I can.
- MaríaMuchas gracias, Daniel.Thank you very much, Daniel.
- DanielDe nada, dime qué necesitas.You're welcome, tell me what you need.
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.
