os quiero mamá y papá
/os kjeɾo mama i papa/from spelling rules
The phrase "I love you mom and dad" in Spanish is os quiero mamá y papá.
This phrase is an expression of affection used to tell one's parents that they are loved.
Which one should you use?
The choice of pronoun changes based on the region. While os quiero mamá y papá is used in Spain, one would typically use los quiero mamá y papá in Latin American Spanish to express the same sentiment.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The use of os in os quiero mamá y papá identifies this specific phrasing as being characteristic of Peninsular Spanish in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase os quiero mamá y papá, the pronoun os is the direct object pronoun for vosotros (you all), which is used here to indicate that the love is directed at two people.
How do you pronounce it?
/os kjeɾo mama i papa/
When do people say it?
The phrase Te amo, mamita y papito translates to "I love you, mommy and daddy".
Did you know?
- The words 'mamá' and 'papá' are not native Spanish words but were borrowed from French 'maman' and 'papa' during the development of the language.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to accompany these words with a 'beso', a light kiss on the cheek, as a standard gesture of familial affection.
- While many people think of 'love' in Spanish as the intense 'amar', when expressing affection for family, the verb 'querer' is actually more common and natural.
Examples in context
- Os quiero mamá y papá, gracias por todo.I love you mom and dad, thank you for everything.
- Solo quería deciros: os quiero mamá y papá.I just wanted to tell you: I love you mom and dad.
- Os quiero mamá y papá, sois los mejores.I love you mom and dad, you are the best.
Example conversation
Mateo is having a video call with his parents from college.
- MateoHola, os quiero mamá y papá.Hello, I love you mom and dad.
- María¡Nosotros también te queremos mucho, Mateo!We love you very much too, Mateo!
- MateoExtraño mucho vuestras comidas.I miss your home-cooked meals a lot.
- MaríaTe esperamos pronto con mucha alegría.We will wait for you soon with much joy.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mamá, os, papá, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
