híjole
/ˈixole/
híjole is a Spanish interjection used to express surprise or disbelief.
híjole is a colloquial interjection. It is used to express surprise or disbelief.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term is primarily used in Mexico and some parts of Central America.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈixole/
Did you know?
- The phrase is actually a 'polite' way to avoid using a much stronger swear word. It is a linguistic euphemism created by combining hijo with the pronoun le to mask a more vulgar insult involving one's mother.
- In Mexican culture, híjole is often accompanied by a specific gesture, such as a sharp intake of breath or a slight tilt of the head, to emphasize a feeling of being overwhelmed.
- Híjole can function as a soft way to deliver bad news or a refusal. By starting a sentence with this word, the speaker signals that they are reluctant to say something the listener might not like.
Examples in context
- ¡Híjole! No lo sabía.Wow! I didn't know that.
- ¡Híjole, se me olvidó la llave!Oh boy, I forgot my key!
- Híjole, qué caro está este restaurante.Wow, this restaurant is expensive.
- ¡Híjole! ¿En serio pasó eso?Yikes! Did that really happen?
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are looking at a broken phone screen.
- MateoMira cómo quedó la pantalla de mi teléfono.Look how my phone screen turned out.
- Lucía¡Híjole, Mateo! Está muy mal.Oh boy, Mateo! It's really bad.
- MateoSí, creo que tendré que repararlo.Yes, I think I'll have to repair it.
- LucíaEspero que no sea muy caro.I hope it's not too expensive.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry híjole, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries híjole, CC BY-SA 4.0.
