hipo
/ˈipo/masculine
The Spanish word for hiccups is hipo.
hipo refers to the physical condition of having hiccup spasms.
Meaning: the condition of having hiccup spasms (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, you use the verb tener (to have) to express that someone has hiccups, such as in the phrase tener hipo. If you want to describe something that causes or triggers the hiccups, you use the verb dar (to give/cause), for example comer rápido me dio hipo (eating fast gave me hiccups).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈipo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly pluralize the word as hipos, but in Spanish, hipo is an uncountable noun and is almost always used in the singular form.
Did you know?
- A common superstition in some Spanish-speaking regions suggests that if you have hipo, someone is thinking about you or talking about you.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a common folk remedy to cure hipo is to drink a glass of water from the opposite side of the rim.
- The word hipo is onomatopoeic, meaning it was likely created by imitating the actual sound of the hiccup itself.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué debería hacer para quitarme el hipo?What should I do to stop hiccups?This sentence is useful for asking how to stop the hipo.Tatoeba #1369991 by marcelostockle, translation #1057307 by CK
- Tom tiene hipo.Tom has hiccups.This sentence shows how to say someone has hipo.Tatoeba #1284306 by marcelostockle, translation #1025375 by CK
- Robustiana come con tal avidez que, a los dos o tres minutos de haber empezado a engullir, siempre le entra hipo.Robustiana eats so greedily that two or three minutes after starting to devour her food she always gets hiccups.This sentence demonstrates how eating greedily can cause hipo.Tatoeba #10221154 by Seael, translation #10613963 by sangelo
- Tengo hipo.I have hiccups.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are having dinner at a restaurant.
- Sofía¡Ay! Me acaba de entrar hipo.Oh! I just got the hiccups.
- JavierBebe un poco de agua, Sofía.Drink a little water, Sofía.
- SofíaYa lo hice, pero el hipo sigue.I already did, but the hiccups are still here.
- JavierPrueba a aguantar la respiración entonces.Try holding your breath then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hiccups” translations and entries hipo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hipo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
