hola hermanas
/ola eɾmanas/from spelling rules
hola hermanas is the Spanish way to say hi sisters.
This phrase is a casual greeting used when addressing a group of female siblings or a group of women who are regarded as sisters.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the feminine plural form hermanas to address a group consisting only of females.
Did you know?
- Some linguists suggest that hola could be a distant relative of the Arabic expression wal-lāh, which translates to 'by God!' and is used for emphasis.
- If you were addressing a mixed-gender group of siblings instead of just 'sisters', you would switch to the masculine plural hola hermanos, even if there are many more sisters than brothers.
- While hola is the standard greeting, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, a common way to greet close female friends or 'sisters' is with a 'besito' or a light kiss on the cheek.
Example conversation
Mateo enters the living room where his sisters are sitting.
- Mateo¡Hola hermanas! ¿Qué hacen?Hi sisters! What are you doing?
- LucíaHola Mateo, estamos viendo una película.Hi Mateo, we are watching a movie.
- Mateo¿Puedo verla con ustedes?Can I watch it with you?
- LucíaSí, siéntate aquí con nosotras.Yes, sit here with us.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
